While Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has enjoyed sky-high popularity ratings during his eight months in office, his main opponent, the Democratic Party of Japan, has moved deeper and deeper into trouble.
The largest opposition party finds itself in a quandary due to internal policy squabbles and the lack of a charismatic leader able to bring together members who hail from a wide political spectrum.
A Kyodo News poll released earlier this month showed the DPJ's support rate had dropped to 8.8 percent from 10.4 percent in September, the party's first dip below the 10 percent mark since the House of Councilors election in July.
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