Argentina gets set to elect its 'Hillary'

She met her husband in law school, launched her career at his side, then played an active role as first lady during his presidency. Now, she is poised to step into his shoes.

No, this is not Hillary Clinton.

Meet Sen. Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the front-runner in Argentina's presidential race.

Ms. Fernández, nicknamed "Queen Cristina" for her feistiness and penchant for designer clothes, is not adored. But many analysts say Sunday's election will be a vote of confidence for President Nestor Kirchner, who is widely seen as leading Argentina out of the 2002 economic meltdown that impoverished many Argentines.

Like Sen. Clinton, Fernández would be the first woman voted into the presidency in her country, and one of only a few to have led in the region, including Michelle Bachelet in neighboring Chile. But in a country still shocked by its worst economic crisis in history, few Argentines are not voting for radical change: they want continuity from the "Clintons" of South America.

Some have embraced her fight for human rights, her international outlook, the economic policies the Kirchners espouse, and the mere fact that she is a woman, says Agustin Salvia, a sociologist at the Catholic University of Argentina. But the vast majority of her support comes from the poor, many of whom lost their jobs during the crisis and have found their economic foothold again – a turnaround for which they thank the Kirchners. "They have seen their economic situation improve, and they want it to continue," he says.

Fernández is expected to win Sunday's race in the first round. To do so, a candidate needs 45 percent of the vote, or 40 percent with a 10-point lead. Most polls show Fernández with more than 40 percent against a fractured opposition. The two closest runners, ex-congresswoman Elisa Carrio and former Economy Minister Roberto Lavagna, both lag by more than 20 points. The winner assumes office Dec. 10.

Fernández, who grew up in a middle-class family and is a veteran lawyer and politician, comes from Argentina's famed Peronist Party, as does her husband. The two established their base in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, where Kirchner was governor, but she carved out her own reputation as a lawyer and legislator. To her supporters, she is an intellectual force and articulate speaker, committed to social justice and human rights; to her critics, she is obstinate and temperamental, riding on the coattails of her husband's success.

A more international outlook?

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