Candidates on the Liberal Democratic Party ticket appear to be leading their rivals in the races for the House of Representatives by-elections in Shiga and Miyagi prefectures on Oct. 28, Kyodo News reported Sunday.

The by-elections are the first national-level polls since the House of Councilors elections in July.

Senior LDP members have been visiting the two prefectures to drum up voter support, because the LDP, led by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, can regain a single-party majority of 241 seats in the 480-member Lower House if it wins both by-elections.