Bolivia's President Morales wins election easily: exit poll
Bolivia's President Morales wins election easily: exit poll
By Enrique Andres Pretel
LA PAZ Sun Oct 12, 2014 8:41pm EDT
(Reuters) - Evo Morales won a third term as Bolivia's president on Sunday, one exit poll and a quick count showed, trouncing his opponents on a promise to consolidate socialist reforms that have vastly extended the state's reach into the natural gas-powered economy.
A Mori exit poll released by Unitel television showed Morales, a prominent member of the bloc of socialist and anti-U.S. leaders in Latin America, winning 61 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Samuel Doria Medina, had 24 percent.
A quick count released by local TV channel ATB showed Morales with 60.5 percent of the vote.
Morales' folksy appeal and prudent spending of funds from a natural gas bonanza to finance welfare programs, roads and schools have earned the 54-year-old wide support in a country long dogged by coups and political instability.
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If confirmed when official results come in, Morales will be in a strong position to keep pursuing his brand of "indigenous socialism", under which he has nationalized key industries such as oil and gas to finance welfare programs and build new roads and schools.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/13/us-bolivia-election-idUSKCN0I103120141013?rpc=401
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Congratulations President Morales.