La Paz - President Evo Morales maintains his lead in voting intention on Monday, with 36% of popular support, 11% ahead of Carlos Mesa, presidential candidate for Citizens Community.

A poll conducted by Ciesmori for the private TV channel Unitel revealed Sunday night that Mesa was expected to secure 25% of the vote, followed by Oscar Ortiz, from the Bolivia Says No party, with 11%, in the lead up to the October 20 general elections.

Following Ortiz is Victor Hugo Cardenas, of Civic Solidarity Union, and Felix Patzi, of the Third System Movement, with 2%. Virginio Lema, of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, Ruth Nina, of the National Action Party of Bolivia, and Chi Hyun Chung, of the Christian Democratic Party, received 1% voting intention. Front For Victory party candidate Israel Rodriguez reached 0.2%.

The Bolivian president leads voting intention in the departments of La Paz, Cochabamba, Oruro, Potosi, Beni and Pando with support ranging from 25% to 48%, while he places second in Tarija, Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca.

Another poll by Tal Cual Comunicaciones y Estrategia for the private TV station ATB, published on August 27, placed the first indigenous president of Bolivia 17.5% ahead of Mesa, with a total of 40.8% of voting intention.