NewsWhore
03-12-2012, 02:00 PM
Today's Diario Libre publishes the results of the Greenberg-Diario Libre national survey that confirms the perception that the 2012 elections will be very close with a strong likelihood of a second round. The poll says results for the second round are also very close (50% to Medina and 48% to Mejia).
The newspaper reports the poll by Washington, D.C.-based Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research from 28 February to 3 March of 1,004 Dominicans eligible to vote, shows a statistical tie between leading candidates Danilo Medina of the ruling PLD and former President Hipolito Mejia of the PRD. National vote preference totals show Medina leading Mejia 47% to 46%, well within the statistical margin of error of 3.1-3.6%. Among those who say they are likely to vote, 49% favor Medina and 48% Mejia, still below the 50% + 1 minimum for a win in a first round.
Guillermo Moreno gets one percent and Eduardo Estrella is close to that figure.
Only two percent remain undecided.
Among voters without a political party affiliation, 32% favor Medina, 29% Mejia.
Diario Libre says the poll shows the country is geographically divided. The Dominican vote in the 20 May 2012 election for any of the major candidates is within the margin of error in all regions except in the National District (Santo Domingo).
In the capital, which includes the National District and the municipalities of the province of Santo Domingo, Medina, the PLD candidate has an advantage of six points, 48% to 42% for Mejia of the PRD. The ruling party has invested most heavily in Santo Domingo, with the metro the nation's major public work by the Fernandez government providing heavily subsidized transport for an estimated 60,000 rides a day. A second line, largely publicized by the government, is expected to be in operation at the end of 2012 and is expected to benefit many more users.
The implication of the predicted close race is that the pace of the political campaign will step up, with more funds made available, mainly to support the ruling government candidate. Traditionally, in an electoral year, as especially evidenced in 2008, government spending increases considerably, with taxpayers made to pay the bill once the election is over.
Over the weekend, the president of the Association of Industries of Herrera and the Province of Santo Domingo, Wadi Cano urged the government not to "derail the train of public finances" now that the stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) signed for 28 months has ended. The program officially ended on 8 March 2012, but the country did not receive the final disbursement of US$500 million for the government failing to pass what would be the last two reviews.
Cano, considered that it would be worthwhile for the government to reach an agreement with the multilateral organization to avoid a deterioration of macroeconomic indicators during the electoral process. The AEIH president said he trusted the words of Central Bank governor Hector Valdez Albizu, who said the links between the IMF and the country would be maintained through a monitoring program. Cano requested that this plan be defined and made known in the shortest time possible.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)
The newspaper reports the poll by Washington, D.C.-based Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research from 28 February to 3 March of 1,004 Dominicans eligible to vote, shows a statistical tie between leading candidates Danilo Medina of the ruling PLD and former President Hipolito Mejia of the PRD. National vote preference totals show Medina leading Mejia 47% to 46%, well within the statistical margin of error of 3.1-3.6%. Among those who say they are likely to vote, 49% favor Medina and 48% Mejia, still below the 50% + 1 minimum for a win in a first round.
Guillermo Moreno gets one percent and Eduardo Estrella is close to that figure.
Only two percent remain undecided.
Among voters without a political party affiliation, 32% favor Medina, 29% Mejia.
Diario Libre says the poll shows the country is geographically divided. The Dominican vote in the 20 May 2012 election for any of the major candidates is within the margin of error in all regions except in the National District (Santo Domingo).
In the capital, which includes the National District and the municipalities of the province of Santo Domingo, Medina, the PLD candidate has an advantage of six points, 48% to 42% for Mejia of the PRD. The ruling party has invested most heavily in Santo Domingo, with the metro the nation's major public work by the Fernandez government providing heavily subsidized transport for an estimated 60,000 rides a day. A second line, largely publicized by the government, is expected to be in operation at the end of 2012 and is expected to benefit many more users.
The implication of the predicted close race is that the pace of the political campaign will step up, with more funds made available, mainly to support the ruling government candidate. Traditionally, in an electoral year, as especially evidenced in 2008, government spending increases considerably, with taxpayers made to pay the bill once the election is over.
Over the weekend, the president of the Association of Industries of Herrera and the Province of Santo Domingo, Wadi Cano urged the government not to "derail the train of public finances" now that the stand-by arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) signed for 28 months has ended. The program officially ended on 8 March 2012, but the country did not receive the final disbursement of US$500 million for the government failing to pass what would be the last two reviews.
Cano, considered that it would be worthwhile for the government to reach an agreement with the multilateral organization to avoid a deterioration of macroeconomic indicators during the electoral process. The AEIH president said he trusted the words of Central Bank governor Hector Valdez Albizu, who said the links between the IMF and the country would be maintained through a monitoring program. Cano requested that this plan be defined and made known in the shortest time possible.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#2)