Maverick Koizumi leading race for Japan PM

Koizumi (R) shares the stage with his closest rival, Hashimoto (L)

In this story: Hashimoto in trouble A Grassroots favorite RELATED SITES

TOKYO, Japan -- A popular former health minister is widely expected to sweep the elections to decide who will lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party and become the country's prime minister.

Japanese media reports say Junichiro Koizumi has swept 11 primaries that were held over the weekend.

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He grabbed districts earlier thought to be the stronghold of his closest rival, former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.

The primary victories means Koizumi has so far won 33 of the 141 votes allocated to local chapters of the LDP. The rest of Japan's 47 prefectures (states) will announce results later Sunday and Monday.

Party lawmakers, who vote on Tuesday, have 346 votes.

Hashimoto in trouble

QUOTE "I had no idea I'd do this well in so many districts. It's like pent-up magma that's erupted" - Junichiro Koizumi

The former health minister's weekend performance has prompted even Hashimoto's backers to predict an upset for their candidate, who was widely expected to succeed unpopular outgoing Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

Hashimoto has so far gained just three votes from the Okinawa prefecture.

LDP policy chief Shizuka Kamei also has three votes while Taro Aso, the fourth candidate, has yet to gain any.

IN-DEPTH Race for Japan's leadership

Interviewed on public broadcaster NHK, Koizumi said the sudden wave of popular support for his candidacy had taken even him by surprise.

"I had no idea I'd do this well in so many districts. It's like pent-up magma that's erupted," he said.

According to the Asahi newspaper Koizumi's lead has prompted an LDP power broker, Hiromu Nonaka, to proclaim him the de facto winner, and hinted that Hashimoto should withdraw from the race.

But Hashimoto said early Sunday that he wasn't ready to give up just yet.

"My competitor has the higher score, but I'm going to fight on," the former prime minister told NHK.

A Grassroots favorite

Koizumi's platform of "Change the LDP, Change Japan" has made him a favorite among the LDP's grassroots members.

Observers say many voters appear to be getting tired of the endless stream of political scandals, and a parade of 11 prime ministers since 1989.

But Koizumi has his detractors. Media reports say local party activists, particularly post office workers that are against his plans to privatize the postal system, were collecting blank voting cards and filling them in with Hashimoto's name.

Columnists say a Hashimoto win under those conditions could well convince the voters that the LDP is incapable of change, resulting in a defeat for the party in July's Upper House poll.

The Associated Press & Reuters contributed to this report.

Liberal Democratic Party of Japan
Japanese Prime Minister

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