Kirchner tipped to sweep back to power in Argentina

Millions of Argentines headed for the polls Sunday, with President Cristina Kirchner poised for a resounding re-election victory -- helped by strong economic growth and sympathy a year after the death of her husband. Balloting began throughout the country at 8:00 am and was to close at 6:00 pm (2100 GMT). Exit poll results were expected shortly afterwards. A center-left lawyer, Cristina Kirchner -- who next week will mark the one-year anniversary of ex-president Nestor Kirchner's fatal heart attack -- has made gains with a more consensual style than her husband, against a fractured opposition. She vowed to push forward with popular social programs -- such as pensions and child benefits, as well as subsidies for transport and utilities -- and dismissed unofficial figures of rampant inflation in the country of 40 million. "The real aim is for this country to keep growing and offering opportunities," the 58-year-old told a crowd of blue and white flag-waving supporters in Buenos Aires this week. Kirchner touted annual growth of more than seven percent -- aided by high world prices for soya and grain exports -- as well as job creation and falling poverty since her husband took office in 2003. Her supporters brandished pictures of Nestor and three-time former president Juan Peron and his populist wife Evita, founders of the powerful Peronist movement. Nestor Kirchner, who had been expected to run again for president, is credited with lifting the South American nation out of its Greek-style financial meltdown of 2001.  His wife succeeded him to become Argentina's first elected female head of state in 2007, for the Justicialist Party created by Peron. Cristina Kirchner, who still dresses in black mourning garb, has worked to improve relations with key sectors like industry and agriculture, after losing support in a dispute over taxes on farmers three years ago. Many Argentines see Kirchnerism as the safest bet for the economy amid uncertainty in Europe and the United States. "I'm in favor of Cristina. Things were bad and now they're improving," said 43-year-old artisan Liliana Vasconcelos as she prepared to vote in Buenos Aires. "She's already won." Kirchner's divided opponents have failed to convince they can do more to reduce runaway inflation -- which independent analysts estimate at up to 25 percent per year, more than double government figures. Socialist candidate Hermes Binner warned that Argentina, which relies heavily on exports to Brazil and China, will soon feel the effects of the global crisis, while others spoke of growing capital flight. Binner, expected to land in second place with 35-40 points less than Kirchner, has focused like other candidates on winning seats in Congress. Kirchner is expected to score more than 50 percent support -- easily passing the 45 percent needed to avoid a run-off -- and return to the pink presidential palace, or Casa Rosada. She also hopes to win back the lower house, where half the 257 seats are being contested, and increase a small Senate majority, where a third of 72 seats are at play.