In Late Run-Up to Election, Candidates Rush To Sway Voters

TEHRAN,Iran – According to officials at the Interior Ministry, all campaign activities here by law must end 24 hours prior to election day.In the final hours, presidential hopefuls rushed to sway voters in Iran, where opinion polls don’t exist and rumors can turn around a candidate’s standing. Candidates and protesters alike have enjoyed greater opportunities to express their views than normally permitted under the current regime – though most believe the relative freedom will end once election day passes.Hours before yesterday’s midnight campaigning cutoff, Iran’s primary TV station broadcast paid programming provided by the leading candidate, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.The strategically timed segment depicted Mr. Rafsanjani in everyday settings. During the course of the hour-long advertisement, Iranian viewers saw the two-time former president getting a haircut, watching a victory by the national soccer team on a flat-screen TV, and reading – at times without the white turban that identifies him as a cleric.On the affluent street of Freshteh in northern Tehran, where Mr. Rafsanjani had opened two separate campaign offices, young men in jeans and stylish sunglasses and young women with blond hair, wearing heavy make-up, handed out stickers that read “Hashemi 2005” and “Hashemi 4 Future” while shouting, “only Hashemi.”Less than a mile south of Freshteh in Mellat Park, young supporters of a former education minister and the candidate who seems to be a close challenger, Mostafa Moin, wore red vests that bore the slogan “We will rebuild our land.” The supporters handed out posters and pamphlets and sang patriotic songs.A former chief of the elite Revolutionary Guards, Mohsen Rezaei, dropped out late Wednesday without awarding an endorsement to any other candidate, but the news drew little notice in what has increasingly become in the past two days a two-man race between Messrs. Rafsanjani and Moin.A Tehran taxi driver told The New York Sun that he and his family planned to vote for another contender, Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, who can hope for a third-place showing at best. The driver said he admired Mr. Qalibaf for his sophisticated speeches. The candidate is a one-time pilot with a doctorate in political geography who formerly served as police chief of Iran.Tehran’s taxi-driver gossip has included talk of the growing support for Mr. Moin. They consider a vote cast for Mr. Moin to be one against Mr. Rafsanjani, whom some Iranians want to pre vent from returning to office. The competition could pave the way for a runoff election between the two.A journalist, Javad Montazeri, recalled the election that brought Mohammed Khatemi into office.”Most people began supporting Khatemi in the last two days by voting against the hardliners,” Mr. Montazeri told the Sun, indicating that similar circumstances could lead to a strong showing by Mr. Moin.Whatever happens in Friday’s election, during the past few weeks, reformists such as Mr. Moin and, more importantly, the Iranian people have enjoyed new freedom to speak in favor of their beliefs. The regime has avoided public conflict to prevent a populist backlash that could result in a boycott at the polls.A small group of women demonstrated Wednesday in front of Evin prison, where many political prisoners and dissidents are held. The illegal gathering at a highly sensitive location produced only minor quarrels with police. Similarly, another illegal demonstration in favor of gender equality held at Tehran University proceeded without the clashes during student uprisings a few years ago. Police had a strong presence at the rally, but there was hardly any violence.Once election results are announced, it is likely hard-liners will come out swinging once again.The feminist blogger identified as Zan Nevisht – which translates as “woman writer” – wrote of the open political debate at 7 Tir Square in central Tehran in her most recent entry at www.Parastood.com. She wrote that such an open environment is unlikely to be seen after today.About 47 million Iranians are eligible to vote. The Interior Ministry expects results to be tabulated by Sunday.

In Late Run-Up to Election, Candidates Rush To Sway Voters

In Late Run-Up to Election, Candidates Rush To Sway Voters

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