Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's ruling party held onto its comfortable lead on the eve of Japan's election, an opinion poll showed today.
A resounding victory would strengthen Mr Koizumi's grip on power and allow him to forge ahead with reforms, starting with the privatisation of the post office. The controversial proposal attracted opposition from within his own party and prompted the snap election.
Thirty per cent of respondents to the survey, which was published by the Asahi Shimbunnewspaper, said they would vote for Mr Koizumi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in the proportional representation (PR) section of the election - eleven points ahead of the main opposition Democratic Party.
The election consists of single-seat constituencies, where voters select a particular candidate, and a PR section where they must back a party. The figures, largely in line with previous surveys, showed that the Democrats have failed to turn a tide which has run overwhelmingly in favour of the LDP.
Most polls have pointed to a majority for the LDP and its coalition partner, the Buddhist-backed New Komeito, in the 480-seat lower house of parliament, with some even predicting the LDP could win a majority on its own for first time in 15 years.
But, making a final pitch to voters in a Tokyo suburb, Democrat leader Katsuya Okada said true reforms can only be achieved by pushing the LDP, which has ruled Japan almost continuously for the past five decades, out of power.
"Unless we change the government now, it may be too late," Mr Okada (52) said.
Mr Koizumi (63) has vowed to step down if his coalition fails to win a combined majority, but to resubmit the bills to privatise Japan Post - a financial services giant with $3 trillion in assets - if it holds on to power.