the ven upue s atmosphere is ca not like what we saw a few weeks ago in the united states. delegates are sitting down getting to what the have come here for. each candidate will make a ten minute speech. the first expected to start speaking any minute. the prime minister noda will speak first, then agricultumini akamatsu, and haraguchi and kano. lawmakers and democrats were expected to run in national elections are eligible to vote here. 336 delegates in all. party members, members of local assemblies and supporters from across the country, cast their ballots too. those will be added to the total. if no one gets the majority, the two leading vote getters will enter a run-off. and nhk analysis suggests prime minister noda is the favorite to win in the first round. one lawmaker i talked to told me that he will vote for noda because noda is the only one who can lead japan. he said he has no doubt in his choice. thank you very much. updating us on the ruling democratic party le