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Olmert's supporters jump ship, jump aboard Livni bandwagon By Mazal Mualem Less than three weeks after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced he will be stepping down, most of his supporters are split between his potential heirs for the Kadima leadership - Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz. Olmert's statements about passing the budget and advancing the peace process are falling on deaf ears - he is a lame duck with no political power or influence, inside or outside Kadima. Advertisement Olmert is not intervening in Kadima's primary, which he promised not to do, his aides say. Contrary to speculations, he is not helping Mofaz in order to weaken Livni and has only hinted to one or two close associates that he would prefer they stay on the fence. People who have met him since he announced his departure say he appears more relaxed, especially since he has ceased to be a target for daily attacks and the media seem less interested in him. Before he stepped down, pundits believed he would have considerable weight in determining his successor, and influencing Kadima members and local authority heads. But Olmert's current influence in Kadima is at best marginal. The municipal heads have declared their support for Mofaz or Meir Sheetrit, and the faction members are supporting Livni and Mofaz. Livni has succeeded in gaining the support of Olmert stalwarts, despite his statement that she stabbed him in the back. These include Finance Minister Roni Bar-On, MK Tzahi Hanegbi, coalition whip Yoel Hasson, Absorption Minister Eli Aflalo and MK Yohanan Plesner. Knesset Speaker MK Dalia Itzik and Vice Premier Haim Ramon are also believed to support Livni, although they have not declared so openly. Olmert's associates said that although it hurt him on a personal level when his associates shifted their allegiance to Livni, he understands that they are politicians who must think about their future and find a new political patron. Hasson, whom Olmert appointed coalition whip only two months ago, was the first to shift to Livni's side. Aflalo decided to support her after ordering a public opinion poll to see which way the wind was blowing, then cited emotional, ideological explanations for his choice. Olmert has almost no political agenda nowadays, observers say. He has ceased dealing with party affairs, as he used to do as prime minister, nor does he meet activists and local authority heads. His aides said that he may not be a significant player now but after the primary, unless an alternative government is set up, Olmert will remain prime minister for several months. This means that he will become relevant again, until the elections. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Poor sports Here are the top 10 excuses for Israel's poor Olympics showing. Kafka the Zionist Remnants of Kafka's estate found in T.A. raise questions of his belief in Zionism.

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