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Last update - 08:31 01/08/2008
Livni, Mofaz vie for support of fellow Kadima ministers
By Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Kadima, Tzipi Livni 

The two leading candidates to succeed Ehud Olmert at Kadima's helm, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, will focus their efforts in the coming days on rallying the support of leading party members. Thus far, almost none of these leading figures has officially come out in favor of either one.

Analysts have said that the struggle between Livni and Mofaz may be decided by fewer than 1,000 votes. Therefore, the role that senior party figures could play in throwing support to one or the other might prove decisive.

The most sought-after people are those ministers and MKs who are considered close to Olmert, including Vice Premier Haim Ramon, Finance Minister Roni Bar-On, MK Tzachi Hanegbi,and Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik.
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The prevailing wisdom is that most Kadima politicians are inclined to support Livni, because polls show her bringing more seats to the party than Mofaz would in elections for the Knesset. But officially, they have thus far chosen to sit on the fence.

Most of the ministers have said their decision will be made in the next few days.

Strategic consultant Eyal Arad, who is employed by Livni's campaign, has began a round of meetings with party MKs and ministers in an effort to convince them to support her. Livni and Mofaz, who are both currently in Washington, also spoke with their Kadima colleagues by telephone.

At this time, Livni is assured the official support of Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra, Deputy Foreign Minister Majalli Whbee and MKs Yitzhak Ben-Israel and Shlomo Molla. MKs Yoel Hasson, Yohanan Plesner and Amira Dotan are also thought likely to come out in her favor.

Support from current Kadima MKs and ministers is particularly important because of the advantage Mofaz has over her among the party's registered membership. Kadima's membership rolls closed on Thursday.

Mofaz is also supported by dozens of leading mayors, including Rishon Letzion Mayor Meir Nitzan and Shmuel Ripman, who chairs the association of regional councils. In addition, he enjoys the backing of Olmert loyalists who believe that by offering Mofaz their support, they could take revenge on Livni for her perceived disloyalty, including her repeated calls for the prime minister to step down.

Kadima is believed to have 70,000 members, of which some 45,000 are expected to participate in the September 17 primary.

Advocates for Livni are telling the undecided that the foreign minister is the only person who stands a chance of winning an election against opposition leader and Likud Party Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, due to her broad popularity. They therefore argue that electing Mofaz as party leader would not serve Kadima's interests.

Mofaz, for his part, is telling Kadima supporters that they should select a candidate capable of dealing with the security issues that are so critical for Israel at this juncture. His supporters also argue that he is better positioned to create a broad coalition government and thereby avoid calling early national elections.

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