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Bachelet Won Presidential Debate for Chileans
(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Michelle Bachelet of the Agreement of Parties for Democracy (CPD) had the best showing in Chile's presidential debate, according to a review of three public opinion polls.
Bachelet—a former defence minister—has topped every voting intention survey for the past six months. Three other candidates are running: former Santiago mayor Joaquín Lavín of the conservative Independent Democratic Union (UDI), businessman Sebastián Piñera of National Renewal (RN), and Tomás Hirsch of the leftist Together We Can (JP).
The four candidates participated in the one-hour meeting on Oct. 19. In an Opina study published in El Mercurio, 32.2 per cent of respondents said Bachelet was the best performer, followed by Piñera with 26.8 per cent, Lavín with 21.1 per cent, and Hirsch with 3.3 per cent.
A Time Research poll had Bachelet and Piñera tied at 29 per cent, Hirsch in third place with 22 per cent, and Lavín with 14 per cent. A Benchmark survey conducted in Santiago also had Bachelet in first place with 39.6 per cent, followed by Lavín with 23.1 per cent, Piñera with 16.9 per cent, and Hirsch with 4.5 per cent.
Lavín lost the 2000 run-off to current head of state Ricardo Lagos of the CPD by 2.6 per cent. The presidential election is scheduled for Dec. 11. If no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots, the top two finishers will participate in a second round.
Polling Data
In your view, who won the presidential debate?
Opina | Time | Benchmark | |
Michelle Bachelet (CPD) | 32.2% | 29% | 39.6% |
Sebastián Piñera (RN) | 26.8% | 29% | 16.9% |
Joaquín Lavín (UDI) | 21.1% | 14% | 23.1% |
Tomás Hirsch (JP) | 3.3% | 22% | 4.5% |
Source: Opina / El Mercurio
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 400 Chilean adults who saw the presidential debate, conducted on Oct. 19, 2005. Margin of error is 5 per cent.
Source: Time Research
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 457 Chilean adults who saw the presidential debate, conducted on Oct. 19, 2005. Margin of error is 4.3 per cent.
Source: Benchmark
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 214 Chilean adults in the Santiago metropolitan area who saw the presidential debate, conducted on Oct. 19, 2005. Margin of error is 6.3 per cent.