An opinion poll of Dominican voters conducted by Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates, Inc. from 21 to 24 January predicts an overwhelming victory for the PLD’s Leonel Fernandez in the first round of the Presidential election this May. PRSC candidate Eduardo Estrella is given 16% and President Hipolito Mejia, as the candidate for the ruling PRD, just 13% support. Last September, a poll by the same company put Fernandez’ majority at 58%, Mejia’s at 20% and Estrella’s at 14%. Only 6% of Dominican voters are undecided, according to the numbers issued yesterday.
In a second-round scenario, the poll shows Fernandez defeating runner-up Mejia 73% to 16% and Estrella 67% to 23%.
As can be seen in the results, published in local newspapers as paid advertisements,
65% of those polled dispute campaign propaganda by President Mejia re-election supporters that alleged many more public works carried out in the provinces during his government than during the Fernandez administration, which, according to them, concentrated solely on Santo Domingo.
Regarding which government was more honest, that of Mejia or that of Fernandez, 14% say Mejia, 73% say Fernandez. When asked if Mejia had improved government programs to fight poverty, 79% of those polled said ‘no’, versus 18% who said ‘yes’. Likewise, 79% feel that Mejia has abused power, while 19% said he had not.
The same poll shows that Mejia’s contenders for the PRD ticket are not faring much better in voter popularity at this point in time. While Mejia received a 13% favorable rate and 86% unfavorable rating, contenders Vice-President Milagros Ortiz Bosch received a 19% favorable and 78% unfavorable rating; and former Tourism Minister Rafael Subervi Bonilla tallied 18% favorable and 79% unfavorable.