Remaking Sharon

By Matt Rees/Jerusalem Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001
    • AP

    This Sharon TV ad aims for voters worried he was too hard-line

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    The setbacks didn't seriously dent Sharon's lead in the polls. For one thing, Israelis' attention was distracted by the intifadeh. Three more Israelis died in terrorist attacks last week, bringing the total to 48 in this intifadeh. Whether or not Israelis blame Sharon for the Lebanon debacle, Barak carries the can for the intifadeh deaths. Sharon aides expect that his advantage in the opinion polls will slim to as little as 5 points by election day next Tuesday. But by the standards of Israeli votes, that would be a comfortable win.

    As Sharon dined last week on kabobs and hummus at a Tel Aviv restaurant, diners lined up to take photos of him. Campaign chairman Silvan Shalom told Sharon, "These people can smell victory." Sharon just smiled. He can smell it too.

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