Nicaragua: Campaigning ends with Ortega in the lead

Public campaigning for Nicaragua’s president ended on Sunday with the latest polls showing Sandinista candidate Daniel Ortega (image) ahead of several conservative candidates. The Nicaraguan right- which have recently aired negative attack ads against Ortega- has been divided that may lead to a first round loss without the chance of a runoff.

In the meantime, conservatives in the U.S. are terrified at the prospect of Ortega returning to be Nicaraguan head of state. Iran-Contra figure and syndicated columnist Oliver North sounded the alarm several weeks ago and even made a surprise visit to Nicaragua in support of Liberal Party candidate Jose Rizo. On Monday, columnist Robert Novak warned of the possibility of “a Nicaraguan tragedy” if Ortega wins the election, while one expert observed that the Bush administration’s reaction to Ortega’s presidential bid “sometimes borders on the hysterical.”

Links- China Post, Angus Reid Consultants, Reuters AlertNet, Reuters, The Lain Americanist (blog), ABC News (U.S.), Washington Post, Guardian UK

Image- The Economist (U.K.)

Tags- Nicaragua, Bush administration, commentary, international politics