In the Nikkei Inc./TV Tokyo public opinion poll [conducted July 22–24], respondents were asked about their views on the opposition parties’ fielding unified candidates. Some 47% said that the opposition parties should field unified candidates in the Lower House election while 36% said otherwise. Although conservative elements in the Democratic Party are critical of forming a united front with the Japanese Communist Party (JCP), some 73% of DP supporters said the opposition parties should field joint candidates while only 22% said otherwise.

About 70% of JCP supporters also said the opposition parties should field joint candidates while about 20% advised otherwise. Among independents, 45% said that the opposition parties should join hands while 28% said they should not. LDP supporters were evenly split with 42% in favor of unified candidates and 44% opposed. (Abridged)