Analysis-Echoing the opposition, Japan's Kishida woos voters with Abenomics critique

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who is also the ruling Liberal Democratic Party President, attends a debate session with other leaders of Japan's main political parties ahead of October 31, 2021 lower house election, at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan October 18 , 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is seeking to steal opposition thunder at this month's general election by mimicking their criticism of predecessor Shinzo Abe's "Abenomics", promising to shrink income gaps and bolster the middle class.

Kishida, who served as foreign minister under Abe, could help his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) limit losses in the Oct. 31 poll by blurring differences to the opposition by calling for a "new capitalism" that would spread the benefits of growth.