Labor party head Shelly Yacimovich leads her Center-Left rivals by a very large margin, according to a survey conducted by Israel Radio published Thursday. The poll puts Yacimovich far ahead of former prime minister Ehud Olmert, former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni, opposition leader Shaul Mofaz and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid.
The findings are based on a telephone survey polling 400 Jewish Israelis conducted on October 30, with a 4.9 percent margin of error.
In a question positing three possible Center-Left leadership scenarios, a combination without former prime minister Ehud Olmert and former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni appeared to be the most popular option.
An Olmert-Livni-free option saw 37% of voters preferring to see Yacimovich lead a Center-Left bloc with two other figures; opposition leader Shaul Mofaz and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid.
Only 12% of respondents opted for a combination of five bloc leaders led by Ehud Olmert. Yacimovich also came out on top in a five-person leadership scenario, receiving 27% of the vote, followed by Lapid with 13%. Shaul Mofaz was least popular in this option, receiving only 9% as leader of a five person bloc.
Options for a three- and four-person leadership excluded the former prime minister.
According to the same poll, the respondents were divided regarding the Likud-Beitenu union, with 29% against the merger and 26% expressing no opinion.
Regarding the US elections, it appeared from the poll that those on the right-of-center would prefer to see GOP candidate Mitt Romney become president, where as those on the left would prefer to see US President Barack Obama remain in the seat. Overall, the poll showed a preference among the wider Israeli public for Romney.