Poll shows support ratings for Finnish presidential candidates almost even

The latest Gallup poll published by the Finnish leading daily Helsingin Sanomat on Thursday showed that the Coalition Party's presidential candidate Sauli Niinisto had rapidly caught up with his Social Democratic Party rival -- incumbent President Tarja Halonen -- in support ratings.

According to the poll conducted on Monday and Tuesday, Halonen would receive 53 percent of the votes in the presidential runoff, while Niinisto would get the remaining 47 percent.

Halonen failed to get more than 50 percent of votes that were needed to give her an outright victory in the first round of voting on Sunday. She is now facing a runoff against Niinisto.

The official voting day for the runoff falls on Jan. 29.

Source: Xinhua