Latest media polls say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently has no serious contender in the upcoming premiership elections, likely to be set for January 2013.

A Tel Aviv University poll on behalf of the Haaretz daily showed the right-wing Likud's Netanyahu pulling in 57 to 62 percent of those polled, who view him the most appropriate candidate.

The report, however, did not say how many people were polled, nor offer any demographic sector breakdown.

After Netanyahu, former centrist Kadima party head Tzipi Livni, who recently said she was quitting politics, received 28 percent of the respondents' votes.

Among other potential candidates, former prime minister Ehud Olmert, who is still undecided about returning to political life, received 24 percent of the votes, Labor party leader Shelly Yachimovich received 17 percent, current Kadima chief Shaul Mofaz got 16 percent, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak got 15 percent for his Independence faction.

The poll also showed that 45 percent of responders were satisfied with Netanyahu's performance as prime minister, against 45 who were unhappy with his results.

The results showed a rise since the last performance poll, in which 38 percent said they were satisfied with Netanyahu's record, to 53 percent who gave him the thumbs down.

In addition, the poll showed a rising electoral clout by right- wing factions, and ultra-Orthodox parties. The two groups would receive approximately 68 out of the 120 Knesset (parliament) seats in the elections, with a center-left bloc reduced to 52 seats.

Another poll published on Thursday by the Ma'ariv daily, found that if the elections were held today, Likud would garner 29 mandates.

The poll also revealed that Yachimovich's numbers are declining, with the former radio journalist receiving only 17 mandates -- this, after previously crossing the 20 mandates line in recent polls.

Some political analysts hypothesized that Netanyahu's growing popularity vis a vis Yachimovich's diminishing returns are related to a hefty security agenda -- particularly the Iranian nuclear threat -- over a socio-economic agenda, a major focus of the Labor leader's platform.

The survey also said that political newcomer and former newsman Yair Lapid's "Yesh Atid" (Future) party could pull in 17 mandates.