MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner's support solid and no challengers on sight

Argentine president Nestor Kirchner would be comfortably re-elected with 57.4% of the vote, with no run off, if the October presidential election was held today, revealed a public opinion survey published in the Buenos Aires press Wednesday.

Mr Kirchner's distant runner up is Conservative leader Mauricio Macri who also happens to be the president of Argentina's most popular football club, Boca Juniors, but he only garners 12.3% of the vote and former Economy minister Roberto Lavagna, 7.9%.

With just over twelve months for October 2007 elections, President Kirchner's positive image remains very high 78.8% and that of his administration follows closely with 72.4%, according to the public opinion poll from CEOP, Public Opinion Centre.

Mr. Kirchner has still to announce his bid for a second mandate although the signals and messages seem quite clear. However from the ruling coalition another possible option is also mentioned: First Lady and Senator Cristina Fernandez, who also shows a strong support.

In this second option the First Lady would manage 44.6 of vote preference, followed by Mr Macri with 15.9% and Lavagana 11.1%.

The survey was done during the first week of September interviewing 1.133 people in Argentina's main cities.