Battle to become Israel's next PM reaches its crescendo

The battle to become Israel's next prime minister reaches its crescendo on Wednesday, as the Kadima Party elects a new leader to replace Ehud Olmert.

Opinion polls show that Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz are the clear front-runners, well ahead of Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit.

Some 74,000 Kadima members are eligible to vote at 114 polling stations in 93 localities, and the results could be surprising depending on the turnout. As of noon, 7.53% of Kadima members had cast their ballots.

Polls opened at 10 a.m. and will close at 10 p.m. Results are not expected until the middle of the night, because the voting is not computerized.

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Magal
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