the case. and, as you explained in that outline of how the system works, there are anything up to 11 parties represented in the parliament. none of them has an actual majority. so the anyone but bibi camp consists of those closer to his party who are a few centimeters to the center and a proliferation of other parties. it looked like the coalition arithmetic would allow the prime minister to lose a little but still form a government. the real momentum shift that seems to be under way is that that may no longer be the case and the opposition leader may actually be able to form a coalition. you mentioned very briefly there the speech to congress. did that hurt or hinder his campaign in any sort of way? well i think it gave him a very initial and temporary bump in the polls, but it doesn t seem to have reset the ajen dachlt one should understand