Survey: Kadima remains public favorite
Despite Sharon's medical condition, his Kadima party has remained a public favorite, a Yedioth Ahronoth survey reveals; with Olmert at the helm, the party is projected to win 39 seats, Peres-led Kadima would receive 42
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Kadima party headed by Finance Minister Ehud Olmert would win 39 Knesset seats were elections held today, with Labor winning 20 seats and the Likud trailing behind with 16, a survey commissioned by Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed Friday.
The survey, conducted by the Dahaf Institute, also revealed that Shas would win 9 seats, the Arab parties would receive 7 seats, Meretz - 6 and Shinui - 4.
The survey also examined
the public's favorite choice to replace Sharon as Kadima's leader, if the prime minister is unable to return to political life following his massive stroke Wednesday night.
Shimon Peres received the most support with 23 percent, followed by Olmert with 21 percent. Justice Minister Tzipi Livni received 14 percent, while Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz trailed behind with only eight percent.
According to the poll,
if elections were held today with Kadima led by Peres, the party would receive 42 seats – only three more
than if the party was headed by Olmert. Labor would win 17 seats, with Likud winning 16.
With Livni at the helm, Kadima is projected to win 36 seats, with Labor and Likud sharing second place with 19 seats each.
