Argentine opposition candidate Macri forces run-off in presidential election

Conservative opposition candidate Mauricio Macri stunned Argentina's ruling party with an unexpectedly strong showing in the presidential election on Oct. 25, forcing a run-off vote next month, preliminary results showed.

Daniel Scioli, backed by outgoing leftist president Cristina Fernandez and her Front for Victory party, had a big lead in pre-election opinion polls and he had hoped for an outright victory on Oct. 25. 
   
But the results showed the two men running neck-and-neck. With returns in from 86 percent of polling stations, Scioli had 35.9 percent support while Macri had 35.2 percent.
   
"What happened today will change politics in this country," Macri, the pro-business mayor of Buenos Aires, said in a speech to supporters.
   
The outcome of the election will shape how the South American country tackles its economic woes, including high inflation, a central bank running precariously low on dollars and a sovereign debt default.
   
Scioli could extend his slight lead as the remaining votes come in but the two men are now certain to go to a run-off election on Nov. 22 and Scioli looks vulnerable.
   
"Now the real election begins!" exclaimed Maria Astigarraga, a 45-year-old doctor, inside the music-filled campaign headquarters of Macri's 'Let's Change' alliance. 
   
To avoid a second round of voting, either candidate would have needed 45 percent support on Oct. 25, or 40 percent with a 10 percentage point lead over his closest rival.
   
The results were met by deathly silence at Scioli  headquarters, where minutes before supporters had been celebrating what was expected to be a convincing lead or even outright victory by governor of Buenos Aires province.

"I'm not surprised...