Well, if a lot of people who did not vote the first time around, vote this time, Rafsanjani will have a good chance to win. Otherwise, he is actually trailing with Ahmadinejad having produced the same kind of excitement that Khatami did -- except in his case, among the poorer and less privileged in our society.
I mention this because typically beysrtr gives a very good account of the mood and feeling in one part of town! A Rafsanjani victory is possible, but a major landslide seems rather out of the question.
Incidentally, as apparent in my other posts last night, I am no longer as concerned about Ahmadinejad as I was before, and in some ways, I would consider his presidency to be rather good for Iran. His presidency would reinvograte the government with fresh blood and some innovative ideas. It will also renew the connection the people feel to their government. Many will know that if a son of a blacksmith can become president, so can they.
Indeed, my main worry about Ahmadinejad winning is not about him personally so much, but rather arises from the concern that with power concentrated in the same groups through the system, there will naturally be a dimunition of the level of political dissent that will be tolerated. That is the one hurdle that his otherwise impressive interview last night did not remove from my mind.
I mention this because typically beysrtr gives a very good account of the mood and feeling in one part of town! A Rafsanjani victory is possible, but a major landslide seems rather out of the question.
Incidentally, as apparent in my other posts last night, I am no longer as concerned about Ahmadinejad as I was before, and in some ways, I would consider his presidency to be rather good for Iran. His presidency would reinvograte the government with fresh blood and some innovative ideas. It will also renew the connection the people feel to their government. Many will know that if a son of a blacksmith can become president, so can they.
Indeed, my main worry about Ahmadinejad winning is not about him personally so much, but rather arises from the concern that with power concentrated in the same groups through the system, there will naturally be a dimunition of the level of political dissent that will be tolerated. That is the one hurdle that his otherwise impressive interview last night did not remove from my mind.