Japan PM's ruling bloc seen nearing 2/3 majority in Oct. 22 lower house poll: Nikkei
Shinzo Abe
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe  who is also ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader   attends an election campaign rally in Fukushima  Japan  October 10  2017.  REUTERS/Toru Hanai
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abeâs ruling bloc  could come close to keeping  its  two-thirds âsuperâ majority in an Oct. 22 lower house election  defying some predictions of substantial losses and solidifying  his  grip on power  a survey published by the Nikkei business daily on Wednesday showed.
 Abeâs  conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its more dovish junior partner  the Komeito  are likely to secure more than 290 seats in the 465-seat chamber  the Nikkei said.
The Nikkei forecast was broadly in line with a Kyodo news agency forecast released on Thursday that saw  Abe âs coalition winning more than 300 seats.
A strong showing by  Abeâs  coalition would boost  his  chances of winning a third term as LDP leader from next September  putting  him  on track to become Japanâs longest-serving premier.
 Abe  called the snap election amid confusion in the opposition camp and after an uptick in  his  ratings  which had been hurt earlier this year by suspected cronyism scandals  in hopes of gaining a fresh mandate after nearly five years in power.
[TGT] attends an election campaign rally in Fukushima  Japan  October 10  2017.  REUTERS/Toru Hanai
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abeâs ruling bloc  could come close to keeping  its  two-thirds âsuperâ majority in an Oct. 22 lower house election  defying some predictions of substantial losses and solidifying   [TGT]   grip on power  a survey published by the Nikkei business daily on Wednesday showed.
 Abeâs  conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its more dovish junior partner  the Komeito  are likely to secure more than 290 seats in the 465-seat chamber  the Nikkei said.
The Nikkei forecast was broadly in line with a Kyodo news agency forecast released on Thursday that saw  Abe âs coalition winning more than 300 seats.
A strong showing by  Abeâs  coalition would boost  his  chances of winning a third term as LDP leader from next September  putting  him  on track to become Japanâs longest-serving premier.
 Abe  called the snap election amid confusion in the opposition camp and after an uptick in  his  ratings  which had been hurt earlier this year by suspected cronyism scandals  in hopes of gaining a fresh mandate after nearly five years in power.