Kadima still in the driver's seat

[Behind the Aegis]

With less than five weeks till election day, Kadima remains comfortably ahead of its rivals with 39 projected Knesset seats, according to a Haaretz-Channel 10 News poll conducted Tuesday evening. The party maintains a healthy lead over the Labor Party and Likud despite having dropped five seats since the illness of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Labor is predicted to receive 19 Knesset seats, while the Likud is at 14 seats.

At this rate, Kadima will have no trouble setting up any coalition it likes - with Labor, the ultra-Orthodox parties, Meretz and Yisrael Beiteinu; or with the Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu and the ultra-Orthodox parties. Kadima could even form a coalition without the Likud or Labor - with the ultra-Orthodox parties and Yisrael Beiteinu it will have 62 Knesset seats, according to the poll.

Following the merger of the right-wing National Union and National Religious Party, the joint list climbed from 10 to 11 seats at the Likud's expense. Meretz is maintaining stability with five projected Knesset seats. Shas is weakening a little (nine seats), and United Torah Judaism is strengthening (seven seats).

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[rpannier]

1. I never thought I'd hear myself say this about any party of Sharon's, but

Good. I'm glad to hear it. I think Sharon has does a very good job of leading Israel these past few years. I hope Kadima gets enough that they need no other party. But, if not, Labor is a good ally. I'm glad the Likud is taking a beating as well.