The Liberal Democratic Party presidential election officially kicked off Friday with three candidates vying for the job, but it doesn't look like party members are going to vote according to their platforms.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, Foreign Minister Taro Aso and Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki are all debating the issues, but observers say Abe will win and go on to become prime minister.
"One distinguishing feature of this presidential election is that Abe was chosen (the winner) very early on," said Hideo Otake, a professor of political science at Kyoto University.
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