South Florida's Peruvians head to the polls for runoff

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

With their favorite candidate out of the race, Peruvians in South Florida will vote in their home country's runoff elections.


BY CASEY WOODS

Thousands of South Florida's Peruvians will go to the polls today in their homeland's runoff presidential election, but for many of them, their candidate is no longer in the race: Lourdes Flores, the conservative standard-bearer who came in a narrow third in the first round.

''She is a very sincere person who would have achieved a lot for Peru,'' said West Palm Beach resident Irma Burkle, 60. ``I have to vote, but I don't like either of the remaining candidates, so I think I'm going to leave my ballot blank.''

South Florida's Peruvian community overwhelming chose Flores in that first round, giving her 9,901 -- or 80 percent -- of the 12,500 votes cast. Former President Alan Garcia, a moderate leftist, garnered 996 votes locally, while nationalist Ollanta Humala received 556 votes. The remaining votes were left blank or were nullified for errors.

Those results place the local vote in stark contrast with the tally in Peru, where Humala won with more than 30 percent, Garcia had 24.4 percent, and Flores came in third with 23.1 percent. Some 26,000 Peruvians registered to vote in South Florida. Peru requires all its citizens of voting age, including those living abroad, to vote, fining them $40 if they don't.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/14736063.htm

[Robbien]

1. The US papers are already calling this race a Garcia win

Reuters: Peruvians set to narrowly elect Garcia in runoff

I wonder how many US paid "minders" are there in Peru working to insure that happens.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

2. I don't think so. While Garcia is more pro business than Humala,

I is still a leftest.

(At least I hope the elections are fair. They couldn't be much worse than what we have here)

[Robbien]

3. Since everyone has to vote in Peru

and over 50% of them are living in poverty, it would lead one to expect Humala would have a better chance at winning.

I don't see how they could get an accurate polling number in Peru unless they went door to door. Many of the poorer people wouldn't have telephones to participate in the polling.

Keeping fingers crossed for Humala.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

4. I would agree somewhat, but the media is a powerful thing...

Look how many voted for Bush here.

[Judi Lynn]

6. I read in the last week or so that Peruvian news outlets are right-wing,

too. Looks as if that has been the pattern in a lot of places. Greedy, anal people bent on acquisition have been buying up control of everything which can be used to "mold public perception."

[Zynx]

5. It must be kept in mind that the government doesn't want Garcia either.

The administration is pissed that the election has come down to these two.