Election Results in Dead Heat
What was to be an easy and quick win by the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) and Oscar Arias Sanchez over rival Partido Acción Cuidadana (PAC) and Ottón Solís, has become the first close election in the history of Costa Rica.

The Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones (TSE) had promised quick results. The TSE had said that the complete results for the presidential voting, along with votes for legislative deputies and regional and municipal governments would be available by 8:45pm last night.

However, as of this morning the count is yet to be finished, with only 84.71% of the votes counted, the PLN is ahead by only 5.461 votes and the win is too close to call.

Solís, from his campaign headquarters, told television cameras that no matter what the outcome, the PAC has obtained a victory not only for the party but for all Costa Ricans.

At the other side of town, at the Corobici Hotel, Arias was more subdued, telling his supporters that this is not the results that they had all worked hard for and expected, but he would respect and wait the decision of the TSE before making a claim to victory. He reminded his supporters and the television viewers that it was the PLN who instituted the TSE and the democratic process of elections.

Earlier in the evening, Arias' brother and campaing manager, Rodrigo, had a deafeted look on his face as his told those gatherered at the Corobici that it would be a long night and they could go home if they wanted.

Epsy Campbell, first vice president candidate for the PAC, countered on national television that only a loser would tell his supporters to go home and that the PAC supporters would be there all night if necessary (and it was) until the last vote was counted.

Television channels Teletica and Repretel have been broadcasting live the results since 6pm last night, only taking a short break in the middle of the night to allow their key anchors to freshen up.

Many have been critical of the pollsters. How could they have been so wrong? Every poll conducted in the past week placed Arias in first place, with an easy win, and Solís in second place with a little more than half of the popular vote.

Arias himself told his supporters that his own polls showed him winning with 44% of the vote.

The polls were correct about Ricardo Toledo and the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), one of the two ruling parties in Costa Rica since 1949 and the party in power for the last 8 years, who is holding at 3.41% of the vote, slightly less than the predicted 5%.

Toledo told television cameras from the voting booths that the country will be surprised and that voters would be supporting him and the party with great numbers and force a second round election. A defeated Toledo thanked his supporters early in the election results and faded away into oblivion. Maybe in 2010.

For the time being, Costa Ricans are holding on to the seat of their pants, anxiously waiting the results and to know who the next president will be.

Will it be Oscar or Ottón?