Poll: Netanyahu will beat any Labor candidate in elections
Survey of 500 people shows Likud with Netanyahu at the helm would gain 30-34 mandates if elections were held today, while ruling Kadima party would drop to 12. Labor’s Ami Ayalon perceived as being more suited to lead country than rival Ehud Barak
Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu would defeat any rival candidate from the Labor party if general elections were held today, according to a poll published by Ynet on Sunday.
The poll, conducted by Rafi Smith among a representative sample of 500 respondents with a maximum sampling error of 4.5 percent, showed that Labor chairmanship candidate Ami Ayalon is perceived as being better suited to lead the country than rival Ehud Barak and would earn the party more mandates.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s ruling Kadima party would drop to less than 10 mandates, the survey showed. According to the poll, Likud, with Netanyahu at the helm, would gain between 30 -34 mandates in the next elections.
Netanyahu is currently weighing the option of moving up the Likud primary elections, but a number of economic issues are delaying the process.
In any case, Netanyahu is certain that he will be Israel’s next prime minister.
Fifty-four percent of those surveyed said the Likud chairman was suited to run the country, as opposed to 44 percent who claimed he was not the right person for the job.
Barak continues his silence
Thirty-four percent of the respondents said Ayalon is capable of taking on the role of prime minister, but 43 percent said he was unsuitable. As for the other Labor candidate, 73 percent said Barak was unworthy of the premiership, as opposed to 25 percent who said they would be glad to see him replace Olmert.
The poll showed that Ayalon would bring Labor 23 mandates in the next general elections, Barak would be worth the party 16 mandates, and current party head Amir Peretz would bring in a meager 12 mandates.
The Labor Party is concerned that fewer members will vote in the June 12 runoff, and not all of the two supporters will cast their ballot. Therefore, the two candidates are holding numerous phone conversations with their activists all over the country to ensure that they are pushing forward and not becoming complacent.
Ayalon held a support rally over the weekend in Kibbutz Deganya B and assured his supporters that the finance portfolio in his government would be given to Avishay Braverman. This statement was probably meant to put at ease kibbutz members who do not care for Peretz, Ayalon's new ally.
Barak continued his silence over the weekend. He did, however, hold several conferences, including one with Bedouin supporters in the South. In private conversations the former prime minister expressed optimism.
