New poll gives Funes solid lead

The publication of a new poll shows that Mauricio Funes continues to enjoy a healthy lead over Rodrigo Avila as El Salvador heads towards presidential elections in March 2009:

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Former broadcast journalist Mauricio Funes is widening his advantage over his strongest opponent ahead of next year’s presidential election in El Salvador, according to a poll by CID-Gallup. 44 per cent of respondents would back Funes of the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) in the 2009 ballot, up four points since August.

Rodrigo Ávila of the governing conservative Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) is second with 31 per cent. A quarter of respondents remain undecided.