The Rumbo newsweekly magazine/Gallup Poll released today shows that if elections were held today, the placement of the three leading presidential candidates would be as follows: Hipólito Mejía (PRD) 44%, Joaquín Balaguer (PRSC) 26%, and Danilo Medina (PLD) 25%. 4% of voters said they did not know whom they would vote for. Since to win the presidential election, 50%+1 of the vote is needed, the second place is essential. Some polls have shown 94-year old Balaguer in the second place, while others show Medina. In 1996, today President Fernández (PLD), who placed second in that year’s first electoral round, won the election when supported by third-place winning PRSC voters in a second round. The Dominican Constitution bans consecutive presidential re-election.
