Opposition Chief Leading in Dominican Vote

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Apparently on the verge of winning the Dominican presidency, opposition leader Hipolito Mejia on Wednesday credited his grass-roots base for getting out the vote.

“We looked for votes everywhere,” the former tobacco farmer said triumphantly--even though he had yet to receive the simple majority needed to avoid a runoff June 30. “I looked under rocks, under a shrub, under a yucca tree and under the stump of a plantain tree.”

It was vintage Mejia, who has won many hearts by once proclaiming, “I’m no jerk!” and distancing himself from a political establishment many believe is more concerned with statistics than people.

Mejia’s informality delighted voters who, weary with the seemingly aloof leadership, wanted more attention for ordinary people struggling to live on an average of $2,000 a year.

As of late Wednesday, with 99.84% of polling stations counted, Danilo Medina of the incumbent Dominican Liberation Party had mustered only 24.9%, compared with Mejia’s 49.86%, just short of the 50% plus 1 needed to avoid a runoff.

While Mejia, 59, comes from the Dominican Republic’s landowning elite, he belongs to the left-leaning Dominican Revolutionary Party, which commands the biggest following in the Caribbean nation of 8 million.

Mejia has promised to spend more on social programs and community-level public works projects.