Asahi wrote that Futenma relocation will be the major campaign issue in the Nago mayoral election to be held on Feb. 4. The election will likely be a head-to-head race between incumbent Mayor Inamine, who opposes the Henoko plan, and former LDP-backed city assembly member Toguchi. The paper wrote that the Abe administration is determined to win the mayoral race ahead of the gubernatorial election to be held next fall. Noting that although the headquarters of the Komeito Party supports the existing Futenma relocation project but its local chapter insists that the base should be relocated out of the prefecture or Japan, the paper speculated that Komeito’s moves will hold the key to the outcome of the mayoral election. Yomiuri ran a similar report.