Netanyahu and Shalom virtually tied

4 days before Likud primaries, poll finds gap between frontrunners only 1.2%.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
silvan shalom 248 88 aj (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
silvan shalom 248 88 aj
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski [file])
Four days before the Likud decides on its new leader, a virtual tie was recorded between frontrunners Silvan Shalom and Binyamin Netanyahu. A poll commissioned by Israel Radio among Likud voters found that Netanyahu would receive 40.2 percent of the vote while 39% would vote for Shalom. According to the poll, Likud activist Moshe Feiglin would finish third with 7.1% and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz fourth with 4.6%. Among those who declared their intention to vote, Netanyahu enjoys a much wider margin (45%- 33%). Shalom, therefore, has repeatedly urged voters to come out and vote on Monday. The poll, conducted among 407 respondents, found that in case of a second round between Netanyahu and Shalom, which would take place if the winner receives less than 40% of the vote, the former prime minister would defeat the latter by a 56% to 38% margin. On Tuesday, a poll sponsored by Shalom and conducted by Dr. Tali Weiss of the RMD firm found that Shalom had narrowed the gap, with Netanyahu receiving 36.5 percent of the vote to 34.2% for Shalom. The poll found that Feiglin would finish third with 6.6% and Katz fourth with 3.3%. Netanyahu's spokesman said his internal polls were similar to a Dahaf Institute poll in Yediot Aharonot that put Netanyahu in the lead with 39% to Shalom's 29%. Among Likud members who said they definitely planned to vote, Netanyahu would receive 45% of the vote, Shalom 30%, Feiglin 14% and Katz 4%. Ma'ariv published a Teleseker poll that gave Netanyahu 35.3% of the vote, Shalom 22.5%, Feiglin 11.8% and Katz 2.5%. According to Teleseker, among Likud members who definitely planned to vote, Netanyahu would win 45.5% of the vote, Shalom 22%, Feiglin 15.5% and Katz 2.7%.