Ahmadinejad leads in early Iran returns

[derby378]

Source: CNN

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was leading in early results from Iran's presidential election Friday, the election chief said.

With almost 20 percent of ballots counted, Election Commission Chief Kamran Daneshjoo said Ahmadinejad was leading with 69 percent of the vote.

Daneshjoo said Ahmadinejad's chief rival, reformist candidate Mir Hossain Moussavi, had 28 percent.

Both candidates were claiming victory.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/12/iran.election/index.html

[Renew Deal]

1. I bet they are counting the votes from the more favorable Ahmedinajad areas first.

It wouldn't surprise me if the election was stolen.

[nyc 4 Biden]

2. Diebold (Premier Election Solutions) anyone? n/t

[habitual]

3. am i the only one that isn't expecting anything other than a fixed result?

Of course it will be Ahmadinejad.. i have no doubt.

[4lbs]

4. State-run media reporting results from a state-run election, where the incumbent has the backing of

the religious head of state.

[David__77]

5. I'm not surprised, and I don't think it's due to electoral fraud.

The poor and rural dwellers of Iran still look positively on the current president for the most part. The intellectuals and middle class has turned away from him, but didn't manage to connect with the broadest segments of the population to build a majority. Part of the problem is that the challenger was associated with neo-liberal economic policies like privatization. He was successfully pegged as a soulless technocrat. What would have been more successful is a left-wing populist like Bani Sadr, but, of course, the "guardians" would have never allowed that.

[Politicalboi]

6. Is Kathleen Harris there?

You can't have a "fair" election without her.

[Mz Pip]

7. If this election is fixed

and I do smell a rat here, then I would not expect the supporters of Moussavi to go quietly into the night.

THings could get really ugly.