Colombia: New Poll Suggests Center-Right Center-Left Matchup in 2018 Presidential Elections

This week pollster Invamer released its third in a series of comprehensive polls on the state of Colombian politics. Former Medellin mayor Sergio Fajardo appears well-positioned to reach a second round election, and wins a hypothetical second round matchup against all other candidates. He has recently strengthened his support at the head of a center-left coalition, and counts with the backing of Claudia Lopez and Jorge Robledo. Meanwhile, the Centro Democratico party of Alvaro Uribe nominated Ivan Duque as its candidate this weekend, setting up a showdown between Duque and independent Conservative Marta Lucia Ramirez to head a center-right coalition. The poll was not good news for former vice president German Vargas Lleras, who continues to slide, and now finds himself in third place, with 72% of Colombians saying that Colombia is headed on the wrong track, and 64% disapproving of the job Juan Manuel Santos is doing as president. Gustavo Petro is in second place in the survey at 14%, but it is widely believed that he lacks a real chance of reaching the second round, which will take place if no candidate wins 50% of the vote.