Indonesia’s Most Popular Politician Joins Presidential Race

Indonesia’s main opposition party has nominated Joko Widodo, the wildly popular governor of Jakarta, to lead its presidential ticket.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Joko already has a formidable lead in the polls, trouncing the runners up by 30 to 40% margins.

In little more than a year as governor, Joko has garnered good standing as a political outsider, unsullied by corruption. If he can maintain his reputation as a reformer up until elections on July 9, analysts predict he could win the ballot by a landslide.

[Reuters]