Aides and officials managing Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara's re-election campaign are concerned that the U.S.-led war in Iraq may adversely affect the Tokyo gubernatorial election, while his rivals see it as a good chance to promote their peace policies.
An official at Ishihara's campaign office, near the Defense Agency in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, said he is worried that voter turnout will be low due to a lack of interest in the April 13 poll because of the Iraq war.
"It depends on when the war ends, though," the official said.