Before running as the FMLN candidate, Mauricio Funes was a television journalist. He gained fame for his morning interview program that was generally critical of the Salvadoran government. Funes is the first candidate from the FMLN not to be an ex-guerrilla commander.
His opponent in the March 2009 election for the presidency is the ARENA party's candidate, Rodrigo Avila. During the civil war in El Salvador, Avila was an active member of one of the infamous “Death Squads” or right-wing military groups organized by the military and ARENA. He is also former deputy director of the National Police.
| Jul. 2008 | Jun. 2008 | Apr. 2008 | |
| Mauricio Funes (FMLN) | 31.1% | 28.4% | 33.6% |
| Rodrigo Ávila (ARENA) | 24.8% | 22.1% | 24.7% |
| Other / Undecided | 44.1% | 49.5% | 41.7% |
Data Source: LPG Datos / La Prensa Gráfica
Methodology: Interviews to 1,500 Salvadoran adults, conducted from Jul. 19 to Jul. 22, 2008. Margin of error is 2.6 per cent.
