Guatemala presidential race narrows as independent gains - polls

Guatemalan presidential candidate Manuel Baldizon (R), from the Renewed Democratic Liberty Party (Libertad Democratica Renovada or LIDER), and his wife Rosa Maria Vargas show their fingers stained with indelible ink after voting in the school of J. Miguel Castellanos in Flores, Peten, 500 km (300 miles) away from Guatemala City November 6, 2011. REUTERS/William Gularte

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala's presidential race has tightened in the final stretch with opposition candidate Manuel Baldizon's lead under pressure from an independent as corruption scandals batter the political establishment, opinion polls showed on Thursday.

Baldizon, runner-up in the 2011 vote, is being chased hard by independent contender Jimmy Morales, a television presenter who has benefited from public anger over corruption allegations that have shaken the government.