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BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Argentina on Monday entered the final stretch of the 2015 presidential race that will be decided by 32 million eligible voters on Sunday.
A total of six candidates are running to succeed President Cristina Fernandez, but three are substantially ahead of the pack, with ruling party candidate Daniel Scioli in the lead, according to the results of recent primaries.
Scioli of the left-leaning Victory Front Party has more than 38 percent of the virtual votes, followed by former Buenos Aires mayor Mauricio Macri, of the conservative Cambiemos (Let's Change) Party, with 30 percent.
In distant third place is national representative Sergio Massa of the A New Alternative (UNA) coalition, with 20 percent.
The remaining three candidates together account for less than 10 percent of the intended vote.
The incoming president, who is expected to take office on Dec. 10, will face several economic challenges, including reining in inflation and litigating against so-called vulture funds that are suing Argentina to retrieve 100 percent of its expired Argentinian debt bonds.
Scioli, governor of central Buenos Aires province, struck a conciliatory tone following his Aug. 9 primary win, saying "we accept this victory with a lot of humility and responsibility ... extending a hand, persuading and understanding those who have elected a different path."
Following the primaries, Scioli's election motto has been "maintaining what has to be maintained, changing what has to be changed."
The manifesto of Macri's campaign has been "zero poverty, kicking out drug traffickers and reuniting Argentinians."
Massa has targeted the "wide middle ground" between the two top candidates of the left and right, a position that may lead to a runoff, since a candidate must garner at least 45 percent of the votes to win, or a minimum of 40 percent, with a 10-point advantage over the next closest rival.
If a runoff is needed, it will take place on Nov. 22.
Voters will also elect national legislators in this general election, including 130 deputies and 24 senators, as well as governors, local legislators, mayors and councillors.
In addition, they will choose 43 representatives to the parliament of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), 19 for the country and 24 for each of its provinces.
Voting will begin at 8 a.m. local time (1100 GMT) at 13,800 voting stations around the country, and end at 8 p.m. (2300 GMT).
Some 92,000 armed forces troops and police officers will be deployed to safeguard the election process.
