3-way contest tightens in Peru

LIMA, Peru — Peru's voters were divided and fearful Friday two days ahead of presidential elections, with polls showing support slipping for a retired army officer who promises to wipe away the "fascist dictatorship of the economically powerful."

Lt. Col. Ollanta Humala, is backed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. Polls show he's now tied with Alan Garcia, a moderate leftist whose 1985-90 presidency was marred by rampant corruption and hyperinflation, and Lourdes Flores, a former congresswoman widely perceived as representing the European-descended ruling class.

Different sectors of society each have reason to fear a win by any of the three leading candidates, said Luis Benavente, director of the University of Lima's polling group.

"These are of days of fear. Many people are trembling," he said.

Humala frightens some people because of violent rhetoric expressed by supporters, and Garcia represents an image of a corrupt government and little credibility, Benavente said.

To some in Peru's impoverished indigenous and mestizo majority, Flores "represents the rich feeding off the poor, who will get poorer," he said.

Support for Humala has dropped 7 percentage points since March 30, to 26 percent, according to surveys by Datum Internacional, while Garcia and Flores each rose to 24 percent, up one and two percentage points respectively, the polling firm said Friday. The survey of 2,536 people Wednesday had a margin of error of 2 percentage points, meaning the top three candidates are essentially tied.

Another respected polling firm, CPI, published results Thursday that also showed them with roughly equal support: Flores with 28 percent, Humala with 26 percent and Garcia with 25 percent, all within the margin of error.

Based on the polls, it appears likely that none of the candidates will garner more than 50 percent of the vote Sunday, meaning the top two finishers will face each other in a May runoff. Twenty candidates are in the race.

Pollsters meeting with international media Friday said that if Humala doesn't make it to the second round there could be a violent backlash by his core supporters. The candidate has suggested there could be voter fraud to deny him victory.

Former Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy, leader of the Organization of American States' observer delegation, said Friday that there was no evidence to back up that claim.

At his closing campaign rally Thursday, Humala repeated his vow to collect higher taxes and royalties from multinational companies who profit from the extraction of Peru's rich mineral resources.

Garcia, 56, promised in his closing speech in central Lima to create jobs and invest in agriculture while refusing to fan the flames of discontent.

A few blocks away, Flores, 46, cautioned supporters not to "allow improvisation and demagoguery to come back and control our destinies. Let's vote with sobriety. Let's vote with maturity."