'Chavez Factor' in Play As Peru Votes

LIMA, Peru —

When Peruvians elect a new president Sunday, they won't just be deciding their own fate for the next five years. Their choice could have far-reaching consequences for Latin America and its leftward surge of recent years.

It will also test the prestige of a highly visible noncandidate _ Hugo Chavez.

The Venezuelan president's intervention has been a highlight of the race between former President Alan Garcia, a center-leftist who favors free markets, and Ollanta Humala, an antiestablishment nationalist tapping into discontent among the poor. Garcia's lead over Chavez-backed Humala, while shrinking in some polls, remains strong.

The runoff vote in South America's third largest country comes amid a contest for ideological pre-eminence on the continent _ between moderate-left, market-friendly governments such as those in Brazil and Chile, and anti-American, populist ones with authoritarian tendencies such as Venezuela's and Bolivia's.

more: http://www.tribune-democrat.com/editorials/feeds/apcontent/apstories/apstorysection/D8I0SV6G0.xml.txt/resources_apstoryview

"market-friendly governments" as opposed to "governments of, for and by the people". I guess if you support the latter, you're an anti-american populist pig eh?

This sounds like the Bushites hope to put together a "rolling back the left" dialog if Humala does not win. What are they going to do if Humala wins?