Ortega set for victory in Nicaraguan vote

Nicaraguans are voting in a presidential ballot that looks set to hand incumbent Daniel Ortega a second term.

The country has enjoyed strong economic progress during the former Sandanista rebel army commander’s five-year mandate.

He went into the election with a comfortable lead over his main challengers, radio personality Fabio Gadea and former president, Arnoldo Aleman.

Ortega has strong backing among the poor – largely thanks to heavy social spending. That has been partly funded by his Socialist ally, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez.

But the fact the conservative opposition failed to unite behind a single candidate has also helped.

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