In this presidential election, rank-and-file party supporters will be eligible to vote, in addition to 412 DPJ lawmakers, as well as local assembly members.

Some analysts who previously thought Kan's victory would be a shoo-in, have since changed their position as Ozawa, despite weeks of mediation and deal-making to encourage him not to challenge Kan, has stuck to his guns and has the unequivocal support of his powerful lower house lawmakers -- joined in the belief that the current leadership needs to be changed.

Political sources close to the matter said that the 340,000 strong rank-and-file party members or supporters will sway the outcome of the vote on Sept. 14 because their votes will equal about 35 percent of the votes to be cast.

It is almost certain that the winner of the party's presidential election will become Japan's prime minister because the DPJ holds a majority in the more powerful lower house of parliament.

Should Ozawa manage to overcome his skeptics concerned over the kingpin's tainted political history and general wheeler-dealer style of politics, he will become the third prime minister since the DPJ swept to power last September.

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