Kono is at 51% among LDP supporters, ahead of Takaichi (19%) and Kishida (18%). Noda distant fourth with 2%. nikkei.com/article/DGXZQO…
Among independents, whose support is critical to any argument about electability, it's Kono (39%), Kishida (14%), Takaichi (11%), Noda (5%).
Unless Takaichi can pick up a lot of the undecided MPs or boost her standing with party voters, we're probably heading for a Kono v. Kishida runoff.
In which case the question is Kishida's insider support enough to overcome Kono's electability argument. Knowing the LDP, it probably is, but we'll know soon enough.
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With Kishida seemingly well-positioned to advance to the second round and possibly win the LDP's leadership, I guess it's time to take a closer look at him. #自民党総裁選挙
While Kono's family is more famous, Kishida is no less of a dynastic politician.
His paternal grandfather was Kishida Masaki, the eldest son of an agricultural goods dealer from Hiroshima (who spent some time in colonial Taiwan and Manchuria).
This column in Sankei by Abiru Rui, a Sankei writer who also wrote several rather hagiographic books about Abe, is an extremely helpful look at how the right wing sees Kono. My quick reading follows.
He opens by noting his anxiety about Kono's basing his campaign on his "ability to breakthrough" challenges. He says that Kono's vague promises that can be easily ignored are reminiscent of the DPJ.
(Has anyone done systematic study on the uses of the DPJ in right-wing rhetoric?)
Some excerpts: "This year's leadership contest reveals the extent to which his premiership continues to shape and constrain the choices available to Japan's leaders."
"It is increasingly apparent that Abe left his successors a toolbox -- fiscal and monetary stimulus, state-led industrial policy, more activist foreign policy led by a strengthened prime minister's office -- but not a road map."
The LDP's campaign website includes the "manifestos" for each of the candidates. Here's a brief guide.
1) Noda Seiko (@noda_seiko93)
Slogan: Politics that can be understood by anyone
She's less a moderate than an outright liberal, particularly in the LDP. Her statement is focused on fostering a "paradigm shift" that accommodates a more diverse society. …in.jp-east-2.storage.api.nifcloud.com/sousai21/pdf/n…
Her platform is to "trust the experts" on Covid-19; realize child-centered politics; fairness towards women, the elderly, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ (allow separate surnames); endorses decarbonization, focuses on renewables but nothing about nuclear.