New poll: Kadima surges into the lead

Livni's party predicted to win 30 seats in upcoming election, Likud 29, Yisrael Beiteinu 13, Labor 11.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN
livni smug kadima 224 88 aj (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimksi [file])
livni smug kadima 224 88 aj
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimksi [file])
A new survey shows Kadima leading Likud by one mandate ahead of the February 2009 general election. According to the results of a Teleseker poll conducted for Ma'ariv for Friday's newspaper, Tzipi Livni's party would win 30 seats, Binyamin Netanyahu's party would get 29, Yisrael Beiteinu 13 and Labor 11. On Thursday, after a pair of polls found Likud losing ground, a Likud strategist said there was a "post-Feiglin effect" that resulted in right-wing voters leaving Likud after party chairman Binyamin Netanyahu went too far in forcing his nemesis, party activist Moshe Feiglin, down the Likud list. He said the Likud had lost the momentum it gained from celebrities joining the party by focusing too much on procedural matters and not on the key issues facing the country. But other Likud strategists said there was no connection between the fall in the polls and the fight against Feiglin. "Our handling of Feiglin was correct and I don't regret it," a Likud strategist said. "The chairman did whatever he could to get the best possible slate of candidates to run the country after the election."