Voters ready to back opposition

More would vote for Japan's opposition than the ruling party if a general election were held now, two media polls showed yesterday, further dimming prospects that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda will call a snap election.

Asked who they would vote for if an election for parliament's lower house took place now, 36 percent of respondents in an Asahi newspaper poll picked the main opposition Democratic Party, against 23 percent for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

A poll by the Yomiuri newspaper showed less of a gap, but the LDP still lagged with 25.1 percent support, behind the Democrats on 27.5 percent.