MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner and Menem top of the poll

The ruling Argentine coalition candidate Governor Néstor Kirchner and former president Carlos Menem lead vote intention for the presidential April 27 election, according to the latest polls published in the Argentine media. However none of them manage to cross the 20% threshold.

Pollster consulting company Analogía report indicates that Mr. Kirchner has 17,2% of vote intention and Mr. Menem 15,7%, followed by former governor Adolfo Rodríguez Sáa with 12,4%, who seems to have lost the most support, compared to previous public opinion interviews. The three candidates belong to the ruling Peronist Party that anyhow is profoundly divided because of the ongoing feud between two times president Mr. Menem and the current caretaker president Mr. Eduardo Duhalde.

Non Peronist candidates, Elisa Carrió and Ricardo López Murphy figure with 12% and 6,8% respectively.

According to the poll Mr. Kirchner followers are predominantly below 45, both men and women and he's making inroads into high income and popular echelons. Most independent voters are inclined for President Duhalde's candidate. His spectrum extends from centre-left to right with many former Radicales supporting him.

Mr. Menem attracts those above 45, with ample support among low and very low income groups and the orthodox Peronist voter. The former president has extensive support from the right to centre right and is rejected by independents.

Ms. Carrió is preferred by her genre, middle and high income groups particularly those belonging to the defunct alliance that took former president Fernando de la Rúa to office in 2000. She also attracts centre left votes.

Finally Mr. López Murphy support comes from medium and medium high income groups and an electorate that defines itself as centre right. He's considered the wonder boy of the business community.

The opinion poll was taken between March 8 and 13th, covering 1,400 people with an error margin of plus/minus 2,6%.