The centre-right electoral coalition has been trailing in opinion polls - but the gap has recently narrowed.

BBC: Silvio Berlusconi makes Italy property tax pledge

The gap between Labour's opinion-poll ratings and its performance in the mid-term ballot box may be embarrassing for Tony Blair, but it is not necessarily evidence that the polls are wrong about voting intention in a general election.

ECONOMIST: The local elections (1)

Recent opinion polls show that the Republican -- Democrat divide on Israel in Congress reflects a growing partisan gap among the general public.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Republicans, Democrats & Israel