Ecuador's leftist presidential front-runner defends closer relations with Venezuela's Chavez in televised debate
The Associated Press
Published: October 6, 2006
QUITO, Ecuador Ecuador's leftist front-running presidential candidate defended deepening relations with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a televised debate with his three closest rivals ahead of the Oct. 15 elections.
"We absolutely do not have to ask for authorization from anybody to seek getting closer with a brother nation like Venezuela," said Rafael Correa, in apparent reference to concerns in Washington about Chavez's growing influence in the region. "We will seek that with all countries of Latin America."
The debate late Thursday was aired by Ecuador's Channel 8 and broadcast by CNN's Spanish-language service.
Correa, a U.S.-trained economist, has recently surged to the front with about 27 percent backing. He has a roughly 10 point lead over his closest challenger, center-left former Vice President Leon Roldos, who is only a couple of percentage points ahead of populist banana-magnate billionaire Alvaro Noboa, polls show. Trailing in fourth place is conservative former Congresswoman Cynthia Viteri, with about 10 percent support.
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http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/10/06/america/LA_GEN_Ecuador_Candidates.php