TL;DR Mainichi Shimbun poll conducted in Sept asking who would be suitable LDP president placed Koizumi behind Takaichi with 21% to 25% votes. However, among LDP supporters, 40% choose Koizumi over Takaichi with only 22%.
In reality, however, Koizumi secured only 84 of the 295 votes from party members and supporters, well behind Takaichi’s 119. Even though Koizumi initially led Takaichi in Diet member votes by 80 to 64, he was overtaken in the runoff, losing 145 to 149.
Looking at the response from the poll, many chose Koizumi because of his youth and generation change. Respondents looked at him as a person better fit to reform LDP tainted by political money scandals.
Koizumi, however, prioritized “party unity” over reform and even suggested leniency toward members involved in money scandals. These decisions may have turned reform-minded supporters away and ultimately cost him the election.
by MagazineKey4532