The most recent El Siglo-Penn, Schoen & Berland survey shows that if the election were held today, 50% of Dominicans would vote for PRD’s Hipólito Mejía; 27% for the PLD’s Danilo Medina and 20% for the PRSC’s Joaquín Balaguer 20%. Only 2% said they were undecided. The poll took place 25 January-1 February, and 1,400 Dominicans able to vote were surveyed. A previous El Siglo/Penn, Schoen & Berland survey carried out 24-31 October 1999, showed that 51% of those surveyed would vote for Mejía, 26% for Medina and 20% for Balaguer. The president of Penn, Schoen & Berland carries out polls for US President Clinton, and is working on Mrs. Hillary Clinton’s campaign for senator of New York. A Gallup-Rumbo poll that took place 14-19 December also showed the PRD candidate to be in the lead. Gallup showed Hipólito leads with 47%, Danilo with 28% and Balaguer with 18%. This compared to an October poll when Hipólito had 48%, Danilo 23% and Balaguer 22%. To win in the first round, a candidate needs to have 50%+1 vote. If none of the candidates achieves this number of votes, a second round is called for 30 June.
