With emotion appeal,Kirchner widow eyes landslide

In an emotional speech on Tuesday,the 58-year-old lauded her husband 8212; who is credited with pulling the country out of its 2001 economic nosedive 8212; for leaving 8220;the best conditions to stand up to this international crisis,8221; as supporters waved blue and white flags and pictures of both of them.

Nestor Kirchner had been expected to run again for president when he suddenly died of a heart attack last October.

His wife had succeeded him to become Argentina8217;s first elected female head of state in 2007,for the Justicialist Party PJ of the powerful Peronist movement of three-time ex-president Juan Peron and his populist wife Evita.

Like Peron,Cristina Kirchner has won support in poor areas,wooing many with hikes in public spending,including child benefit and pensions,as well as long-term subsidies to transport and utilities.

Media criticism and allegations the government is under-reporting runaway inflation have done little to dent her popularity,and observers predicted she would win a first-round victory of more than 50 per cent on Sunday.