JERUSALEM, Jan. 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's party, Kadima, would have won the elections as of Thursday, but may suffer losses within weeks heading to the March 28 vote, according to the latest poll and Kadima members.

    Kadima would have won 40 Knesset (parliament) seats if elections were held Thursday headed by acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, according to the poll.

    Had Vice Premier Shimon Peres taken over the party's leadership, Kadima would have secured 42 seats -- the same as forecast four days ago before Sharon fell ill.

    If Justice Minister Tzipi Livni had otherwise stepped into Sharon's shoes, the party would have garnered at least 38 Knesset seats.

    Those were part of the results from a special survey conducted Thursday by Dr. Camil Fuchs's polling company, Dialog, less than one day after Sharon suffered a severe stroke.

    The survey covering 650 people had its limitations as it was made at the height of uncertainty, polling a public awash in sympathy for Sharon, who is fighting for his life.

    The prevailing assumption among Kadima members is that their party will lose altitude in polls over the coming weeks.

    A senior Kadima official said Thursday that the victory line for the party was 30-32 seats. If Kadima gets 32 seats on March 28, it will form the next coalition, he declared.

    Most senior Kadima members on Thursday night announced their support for Olmert.

    "Should, heaven forfend, Peres lead Kadima, everything will fall apart immediately. We must choose Olmert in no more than a week, rally around him, choose an inner circle of five or six, and erase any signs of internal strife or disputes over places," a senior Kadima figure said.

    Peres is scheduled to meet with Olmert on Friday. Senior Kadima officials said Olmert must offer Peres the number two slot on the party list and possibly even the job of acting prime minister, in order to "lock him into Kadima, and prevent his return to Labor."

    Senior Labor officials already put out feelers to Peres on Thursday, checking if he was willing to go back to Labor and serve as Amir Peretz's number two.

    Sharon was rushed to hospital on Wednesday night after suffering a severe stroke. Doctors said that he might suffer irreversible brain damage that would prohibit him from returning to office. Enditem