Araya Holds A Solid Advantage Over Arias For PLN Leadership: Poll

San José mayor, Johnny Araya, despite the lack of paid television ads, he continues in the advantage for the leadership of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) in the 2014 presidential elections. Araya prefers to move among the public attending public activities at night and weekends.

If the convention would be held today Araya would take the leadership. However, the convention is next March and anything can happen between now and then.

According to the poll by Borge y Asociados for the Grupo Extra, Rodrigo Arias, the former ministro de la Presidencia and brother to two time president Oscar, today, is in second place despite the television campaign of the last several months to boost his public image

In fact, the poll indicates Araya today has 37.4% support as compared to the 21.1% for Arias.

The other possible contender in the race is former president José María Figueres.

Although Figueres has not yet announced his candidacy, preferring to avoid questions by the media on the subject, the Borge y Asociados poll gives him a 12.7% support. Álvarez Desanti follows with 10.6% and Fernando Berrocal with a dismal 2.3%.

The poll was taken between July 2 and 10 and took in the response of 1.200 people with a 2.8% margin of error.

According to the Borge y Asociados poll, the support for Arias is from the wealthy, while Araya's support is from the middle to lower classes.

Most of the respondents feel the strengths of Araya quite different of Arias, feeling that Araya is close to the people, while Arias is closer to the money.