Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12433 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AF AR ASEC AEMR AMGT AE ABLD AL AJ AU AO AFIN ASUP AUC APECO AM AG APER AGMT AMED ADCO AS AID AND AMBASSADOR ARM ABUD AODE AMG ASCH ARF ASEAN ADPM ACABQ AFFAIRS ATRN ASIG AA AC ACOA ANET APEC AQ AY ASEX ATFN AFU AER ALOW AZ APCS AVERY ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AN AGRICULTURE AMCHAMS AINF AGAO AIT AORL ACS AFSI AFSN ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN ADANA AX AECL AADP AMEX ACAO AORG ADM AGR AROC
BL BR BO BE BK BY BA BILAT BU BM BEXP BF BTIO BC BBSR BMGT BTIU BG BD BWC BH BIDEN BB BT BRUSSELS BP BX BN
CD CH CM CU CBW CS CVIS CF CIA CLINTON CASC CE CR CG CO CJAN CY CMGT CA CI CN CPAS CAN CDG CW CONDOLEEZZA CT CIC CIDA CSW CACM CB CODEL COUNTERTERRORISM CTR COUNTER CWC CONS CITEL CV CFED CBSA CITT CDC COM COE COUNTRY CLEARANCE CDB CKGR CACS CARSON CROS CAPC CHR CL CICTE CIS CNARC CJUS CEUDA CLMT CAC COPUOS CBC CBE CARICOM CTM CVR
DR DPRK DEPT DA DJ DEA DTRA DOMESTIC DHS DAO DCM DO DE DEAX DOE DK DS DISENGAGEMENT DOD DEFENSE
EAGR EAIR ECON ECPS ETRD EUN ENRG EINV EMIN EU EFIN EREL EG EPET ENGY ETTC EIND ECIN EAID ELAB EC EZ ENVR ELTN ELECTIONS ER EINT ES EWWT ENIV EAP EFIS ERD ENERG EAIDS ECUN EI EINVEFIN EN EUC EINVETC ENGR ET ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ECONOMY EUMEM ESA EXTERNAL EINVECONSENVCSJA EINN EEPET ENVI EFTA ESENV ECINECONCS EPA ECONOMIC ETRA EIAR EUREM ETRC EXBS ELN ECA EK ECONEFIN ETC ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH ECIP EINDETRD EUR ENNP EXIM ERNG EFINECONCS ETRDEINVTINTCS ETRO EDU ETRN EFIM EAIG EURN ECONCS ECONOMICS
FR FREEDOM FTA FI FOR FJ FTAA FARC FINANCE FDA FAC FBI FAO FM FMLN FO FISO FOREIGN FOI FAS FINR
GM GE GG GZ GOV GT GR GAERC GV GH GA GY GOI GTIP GCC GERARD GAZA GTMO GL GLOBAL GANGS GF
HO HA HILLARY HUMAN HR HURI HEBRON HU HK HUMOR HSTC HI HYMPSK
IS ICRC IN IR IZ IT INRB IAEA ICAO ITALY ITALIAN IRAQI IC IL ID IV IMO INMARSAT IQ IRAJ IO ICTY IPR IWC ILC INTELSAT IBRD IMF IRC IRS ILO ITU IDA IAHRC ICJ ITRA ISRAELI ITF IACI IDP ICTR IIP IA IF IZPREL IGAD INTERPOL INTERNAL ISRAEL ISLAMISTS INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV IBET IEFIN INR INRA INRO IEA
JA JAMES JO JM JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JOHN JUS
KSCA KUNR KHLS KAWK KISL KPAO KSPR KGHG KPKO KDEM KNNP KN KS KPAL KACT KCRM KDRG KJUS KGIC KRAD KU KTFN KV KMDR KWBG KSUM KSEP KCOR KHIV KG KGCC KTIP KIRF KE KIPR KMCA KCIP KTIA KAWC KBCT KVPR KPLS KREL KCFE KOMC KFRD KWMN KTDB KPRP KMFO KZ KVIR KOCI KMPI KFLU KSTH KCRS KTBT KIRC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFLO KSTC KFSC KFTFN KIDE KOLY KMRS KICA KCGC KSAF KRVC KVRP KCOM KAID KTEX KICC KNSD KBIO KOMS KGIT KHDP KNEI KTRD KWNM KRIM KSEO KR KWAC KMIG KIFR KBTR KTER KDDG KPRV KPAK KO KRFD KHUM KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KREC KCFC KLIG KWMNCS KSEC KPIN KPOA KWWMN KX KCMR KPWR KCHG KRGY KSCI KNAR KFIN KBTS KPAONZ KNUC KNPP KDEMAF KNUP KNNPMNUC KERG KCRCM KWMM KPAI KHSA KTLA KRCM KCSY KSAC KID KOM KMOC KESS KDEV KJUST
LE LY LI LH LAB LU LG LOG LTTE LA LO LABOR LT
MARR MOPS MX MASS MNUC MCAP MO MU ML MA MTCRE MY MOPPS MASC MIL MR MTS MLS MILI MK MEPP MD MAR MP MTRE MCC MZ MDC MRCRE MV MI MEPN MAPP MEETINGS MAS MTCR MG MEPI MT MEDIA MASSMNUC MQADHAFI MPOS MAPS MARAD MC MIK MUCN MILITARY MERCOSUR MW
NZ NL NATO NO NI NU NATIONAL NG NP NPT NPG NS NA NSG NAFTA NC NH NE NSF NSSP NDP NORAD NK NEW NR NASA NT NIPP NAR NGO NW NV NATOPREL NPA NRR NSC NSFO NZUS
OTRA OVIP OEXC OIIP OSAC OPRC OVP OFFICIALS OAS OREP OPIC OSCE OECD OSCI OFDP OPDC OIC OFDA ODIP OBSP ON OCII OES OPCW OPAD OIE OHUM OCS OMIG OTR
PGOV PREL PARM PHUM PREF PTER PINS PK PINR PROP PBTS PKFK PL PE PSOE PEPR PM PAK POLITICS POL PHSA PPA PA PBIO PINT PF PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PNAT POLINT PRAM PMAR PG PAO PROG PRELP PCUL PSEPC PGIV PO PREFA PALESTINIAN PGOVLO PGOVE PLN PINF PAS PDEM PHUMPGOV PNG PHUH PMIL POGOV PHUMPREL PHUS PRL PGOC PNR PGGV PROV PHUMBA PEL PECON POV PSA PREO PAHO PP PSI PINL PU PARMS PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS PTBS PORG PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PS PY PTERE PGOF
QA
RS RO RU RW REGION RIGHTS RSP ROBERT RP RICE REACTION RCMP RFE RM RIGHTSPOLMIL RF ROOD RUPREL RSO RELATIONS REPORT
SENV SZ SOCI SNAR SP SCUL SU SY SA SO SF SMIG SW STEINBERG SG SIPRS SR SI SPCE SN SYRIA SL SC SHI SNARIZ SIPDIS SPCVIS SH SOFA SK ST SEVN SYR SHUM SAN SNARCS SAARC SARS SEN SANC SCRS SENVKGHG SNARN SWE SSA
TPHY TW TS TU TX TRGY TIP TSPA TSPL TBIO TNGD TI TFIN TC TRSY TZ TINT TT TF TN TERRORISM TP TURKEY TD TH TBID TL TV TAGS TK TR THPY TO
UNGA UNSC UNCHR UK US UP UNEP UNMIK UN UAE UZ UG UNESCO UNHRC USTR UNHCR UY USOAS UNDC UNCHC UNO UNFICYP USEU UNDP UNODC UNCND UNAUS UNCHS UV USUN USNC UNIDROIT UNCSD UNICEF UE UNC USPS UNDESCO UNPUOS USAID UNVIE
VE VT VZ VTPREL VM VN VTIZ VAT VC VTEG VI
WMO WTRQ WB WI WWARD WA WBG WITH WHA WTO WMD WTRO WIPO WHO WS WHTI WEU WZ WFP
XB XG XT XH XA XM XF XE XR XK XL XW XY XS XX XV XD XTAG XQ XU XZ XC XI
YM YE YI YMCS
ZI ZP ZR ZO ZF ZANU ZOELLICK ZU ZL ZEALAND ZN ZB ZA ZK ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 06QUITO2638, ELECTION UPDATE: CANDIDATES ACTIVE BUT VOTERS NOT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06QUITO2638.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06QUITO2638 | 2006-11-01 22:10 | 2011-05-02 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Quito

`

    VZCZCXYZ0009
    OO RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHQT #2638/01 3052212
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    O 012212Z NOV 06
    FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5591
    INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 6128
    RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 2135
    RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ NOV 0187
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 1111
    RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 1370
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
    RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

` `

    UNCLAS QUITO 002638

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    PLEASE PASS ALSO TO USOAS AND USAID/LAC

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV KDEM EC
    SUBJECT: ELECTION UPDATE: CANDIDATES ACTIVE BUT VOTERS NOT
    FIRED UP

    REF: QUITO 2617

    ¶1.  (SBU) Summary: The second round of campaigning is well
    underway, with leftist candidate Rafael Correa seeking to
    re-position himself, using symbolic meetings with authority
    figures to attract centrist voters.  For his part,
    center-right candidate Alvaro Noboa is sticking with the
    formula that led to his surprising come-from-behind victory
    in the first round--doling out charitable donations and
    populist promises of better days for the poor under a Noboa
    government.  Noboa appears confident of his lead in the
    polls, while Correa is complaining of financial difficulties
    and predicting further (unsubstantiated) fraud.  The E-vote
    scandal continues to play out, resulting in the provisional
    arrest of a former OAS election official.  Comments by OAS
    SecGen Insulza from Washington are being interpreted as
    indicating Rafael Bielsa will return to lead the OAS
    observation mission for the second round of voting on
    November 26.  End Summary.

    New Polls Expected Soon
    -----------------------

    ¶2.  (SBU) Fresh poll results are expected to become public
    here soon, but were not yet available at the time of this
    report.  The head of Cedatos, one of the more credible of
    polling organizations, told us preliminary results of a poll
    conducted October 28-29, did not vary greatly from the week
    before (which had Noboa leading Correa by a 16-point margin).

    E-Vote Scandal Fallout Continues
    --------------------------------

    ¶3.  (SBU) Santiago Murray, the former OAS election official
    who acted as spokesman for the Brazilian firm E-Vote, was
    taken into custody by authorities on October 31, according to
    press reports.  E-Vote was contracted by the Supreme
    Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to conduct a preliminary quick
    count, but its software crashed late on election night after
    tabulating only 70% of the presidential vote.  Murray was
    arrested on a warrant issued by the 14th criminal court of
    Pichincha at the request of the Public Ministry (Attorney
    General's Office).  He was later transferred to hospital
    after respiratory failure.

    ¶4.  (SBU) The E-Vote failure also led to calls for
    investigation of the TSE for irregularities in the handling
    of the contract (which was awarded late, without endorsement
    from the Solicitor and Comptroller General's office).  The
    Supreme Court declined to rescind TSE member immunity, so the
    investigation has been blocked.  For its part, the Social
    Christian Party (PSC) on October 30 called TSE president
    Xavier Cazar (and PSC member) before its disciplinary
    committee, to explain his actions in the case.  No decisions
    were announced.

    Correa Campaign:  Ambassador, Nebot, Church
    -------------------------------------------

    ¶5.  (SBU) After meeting with the Ambassador on October 26
    (RefTel), presidential finalist Rafael Correa met with
    influential Guayaquil mayor Jaime Nebot on October 27.
    Correa publicized both meetings, apparently seeking to
    moderate his radical anti-establishment image.  After meeting
    with Nebot, Correa pledged his government's support for
    Nebot's autonomy proposal, pending before Congress.  During a
    separate meeting with mayors from Guayas' Santa Elena
    peninsula, Correa promised his government's support for their
    demands for separation from Guayas province.

    ¶6.  (U) On October 31, Correa held another high-profile
    meeting, this time with the Catholic Church's Episcopal
    Conference, reportedly to describe his plan of government and
    his own Catholic faith.  After the private meeting, Correa
    told the press that he assured the Church leaders he would
    not "use" his religious faith for political purposes, or
    attempt to buy votes with "alms" unlike his rival.

    ¶7.  (SBU) Correa used the media exposure on his Church
    meeting to accuse Noboa of cowardice for ducking a final
    presidential debate, and acknowledged a $160,000 campaign
    deficit entering the second round.  Electoral authorities

    revealed that Correa spent $40,763 between October 27-29;
    Noboa spent $54,177 during the same period.  The official
    spending limit for the second round campaign is $687,000,
    which amounts to one quarter of the overall campaign spending
    limit.  An anti-Noboa email circulating here on October 17
    accused Noboa of having spent $6,275 million so far
    (including pre-campaign spending to boost his image), and
    highlighted the 2002 Human Rights Watch report "Harvest of
    Shame" criticizing Noboa's labor practices on banana
    plantations which supply his firm.

    Noboa Campaign Promises
    -----------------------

    ¶8.  (U) For his part, Alvaro Noboa told the press that with
    all due respect to Ambassadors, mayors and the Church, he
    would eschew all such meetings and concentrate his campaign
    efforts only on reaching out to the people.  Visiting cities
    in Los Rios province, he proposed to raise the Human
    Development handout to the poor from its current $15/month to
    $35.  He also pledged to provide credit at low interest
    rates, generate employment and trade, and to provide greater
    resources to provinces and municipalities.  He thanked voters
    for their generosity and pledged to continue to respond in
    the same spirit.  He claimed a Noboa government would deal
    harshly with anyone not willing to pay the official wholesale
    price for bananas (note:  Correa had made the same pledge
    earlier and claims Noboa is not paying his contractors the
    full price).

    OAS EOM Stays the Course; Correa Renews Attacks
    --------------------------------------------- --

    ¶9.  (SBU) Press here reported on October 31 that OAS SecGen
    Insulza had strongly affirmed OAS confidence in the OAS
    Election Observation Mission headed by former Argentine FM
    Rafael Bielsa.  "We are perfectly happy with our mission's
    work in Ecuador," Insulza reportedly told local media outlet
    "Ecuavisa."  Asked for comment, Correa reportedly renewed his
    call for Bielsa's removal for "unpardonable acts of omission
    and commission" during the first round of voting.  On October
    31, Correa again called for the removal of the TSE board and
    the Defense Minister, for alleged fraud.

    Comment
    -------

    ¶10.  (SBU) Although the candidates have been as active as
    ever, most Ecuadorians appear to be taking a breather from
    the campaign.  We expect public interest to grow, especially
    if Correa is able to narrow the gap in the polls.  Noboa's
    apparent hope of coasting to victory by avoiding debate and
    trumpeting his lead may not be a smart strategy.  If voter
    disaffection continues or grows, it could become an important
    factor in this election.  Given a choice between these two
    candidates at opposite sides of the political spectrum, we
    expect many voters to reject both, by nullifying their
    ballots.  That form of abstention could easily exceed 30%;
    with both candidates enjoying a reliable hard-core vote of
    about 25%, the relatively narrow range of swing voters that
    will ultimately decide this election will make this election
    less predictable than the polls might indicate.
    BROWN

`