SAN JOSE (Reuters) - The presidential hopeful of Costa Rica's ruling party is seen as the frontrunner in the run-up to Sunday's elections, but analysts say campaign gaffes and scandals dogging President Laura Chinchilla's government will likely force him into a second round run-off against a leftist challenger.
Centrist former San Jose mayor Johnny Araya, running on a pledge to reduce poverty in the coffee-producing tourist haven, pulled ahead of his closest rivals in recent weeks after turning up the rhetoric to paint them as radicals.