‘Sharon’s guy’ Olmert prepares to lead Israel rest of the way

“It was clear to me that he was running as the Anointed One,” says New York Congressman Gary Ackerman, one of the attendees. “This guy’s positioning himself at the right hand. He’s running as Sharon’s guy.”

That image is just about guaranteed to evolve before the March 28 vote. No one doubts the his determination to pursue Sharon’s policy of “unilateral disengagement” with the Palestinians.

First, however, Olmert needs a solid mandate from Israel’s voters. The candidate’s media handlers are brainstorming how best to sell his virtues—and smooth his rough edges. Kadima Party campaign manager Reuven Adler says that his team will conduct focus groups in coming weeks to help shape Olmert’s public persona. Somehow the candidate must reconcile his current status as heir presumptive with his lifelong reputation as a political maverick and his often abrasive personal style.

At present Olmert is riding a surge of public sympathy. Last week, as Sharon remained in a coma, opinion surveys showed stronger public support for the party under Olmert’s leadership than the party had managed to attract while Sharon was in charge. But stand-ins and sympathy votes are not forever. Before too long, Kadima’s new leader will need to prove he’s something more than a surrogate Sharon. —LAT-WP