JERUSALEM (AP) – A divided Labor Party voted Monday for a leader in a contest that could send Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s ruling coalition veering to the hawkish right, or threaten his political survival.

Exit polls indicated the race between Prime Minister Ehud Barak and a political newcomer was too close to call – and neither man had enough votes to avoid a runoff.

Ami Ayalon, a dovish former internal security agency head, has pledged to lead the centrist Labor out of its year-old partnership with Olmert if the prime minister’s Kadima Party doesn’t choose a new leader – a move that could force Olmert to co-opt lawmakers from other parties who take a hard line toward the Palestinians, or renew pressure on him to resign.

Barak says he would serve in an Olmert government, while working within parliament to topple the Israeli leader and call early elections.

A Channel Two television poll declared Ayalon, a former navy admiral and head of Israel’s Shin Bet security agency, the winner, while an Israel TV poll said Barak received the most votes.

Both polls, however, showed the men falling short of the 40 percent threshold needed to avoid a runoff. If the results hold up, a runoff will be held June 12.

The Channel Two poll said Ayalon 39 percent of the vote, compared to 33 percent for Barak and 19 percent for the current party leader, Amir Peretz.

The Israel TV poll said Barak received 38 percent, compared to 36 percent for Ayalon and 17 percent for Peretz.

Neither poll gave a margin of error.

Final results were expected early Tuesday.