DPJ 40%, LDP 30% according to Nikkei poll

 According to today's Nihon Keizai Shimbun the DPJ now have 40% support rate versus a 30% support rate for the LDP. This may not sound high, but from what I've seen in the past this is actually really, really high.

I remember before the 2007 upper house election being surprised at seeing the DPJ with 29% versus the LDP with 23%. So while a lot can happen in the almost 38 or so days left, this is an amazing lead. Not only that but the the Prime Minister's support rate is also quite abysmal at about 20% with a whopping 71% disapproval rate.

I also tend to think the media is giving the DPJ a huge boost by really playing up the idea that this is a two party race. (Of course the reality would be a lot more complicated ...)

Here are some other interesting numbers. When asked in a poll who they thought would be the most appropriate prime minister for Japan after the election, 9% chose the current Prime Minister Aso, 28% chose the DPJ's leader Hatoyama, while 57% said neither. That's a fairly intelligent electorate if you ask me.

Nevertheless, when asked which party would be most appropriate to form the next government, 12% chose the LDP, 29% chose the DPJ, and 42% said that a coalition would be best. Wow. The majority of people want a grand coalition? Give me a new poll! Or perhaps that means people really don't like either party so much ...

An abbreviated form of the article referred to here can be found online here.