A recent poll of 500 Jerusalemites found that 49 percent of respondents would elect Nir Barkat as Jerusalem's next mayor. Barkat is a noted Israeli high tech businessman and philanthropist. Hareidi candidate MK Meir Porush, who is replacing current mayor Uri Lupolianski as the United Torah Judaism party candidate, would receive 31 percent of votes, with 15 percent voting for business tycoon Arcadi Gaydamak. 

The Dahaf Institue survey taken for Yediot Jerusalem found that 60 percent of the religious community of Jerusalem and 73 percent of the traditional community favor Barkat, with Porush garnering only 25 percent of the religious and traditional votes.

The results of the poll suggest that 56 percent of the hareidim support the current mayor, Uri Lupolianski, as opposed to 26 percent who prefer Porush.  Fifty eight percent of secular Jerusalem residents would prefer Lupolianski to run again, as opposed to 9 percent who want Porush.