Crowded race starts to be Japan PM

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TOKYO, Sept 10(AFP) Taro Aso, the front-runner to be Japan's next prime minister, cast himself Wednesday as the best person to fight a resurgent opposition in upcoming general elections. brAs a crowded race kicked off within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to succeed Yasuo Fukuda as premier, Aso -- a flamboyant former foreign minister with hawkish views on security -- submitted his papers to run in the September 22 party ballot. brAso (67) is running against four other candidates in the most crowded LDP race since the long-dominant party started its current system for picking the premier. brWith general elections due to be held within a year, the crucial issue is who will fight the opposition, Aso, flanked by supporters, told reporters at the LDP's headquarters. brThe next prime minister must call elections by September 2009 but some LDP lawmakers want snap polls to take advantage of the initial popularity of the new leader. brFukuda abruptly quit last week after months of dismal approval ratings as Japan's economy, the world's second largest, falters. Fukuda also came under intense criticism for raising medical costs on elderly people. brAso, the secretary general of the LDP, has promised to focus on stimulating the economy, even by cutting taxes, rather than on trimming Japan's public debt, which is the highest among rich nations.