Bolivia's presidential candidates entered the final stretch of their electoral race with left-winger Evo Morales heading the polls, followed by Jorge Quiroga, local media reported on Sunday.

The four remaining days will be marked by intensified campaigning by the leading candidates. Morales and Quiroga have visited five cities in two days, a pace they plan to maintain until the end of the campaign period.

Bolivian electoral rules say campaigning must stop two days ahead of elections, due on Dec. 18.

Morales, Quiroga, centrist Samuel Doria and nationalist Michiaki Nagatani, are fighting for the 12.8 percent of voters who say they are undecided on who should succeed Eduardo Rodriguez, who became acting president in June in middle of a political crisis.

Morales, leader of the Socialist Movement, had 32.8 percent of voter intentions, narrowly beating Quiroga of the right-wing Social Democratic Power, in a poll by Ipsos Captura, a consulting firm belonging to media conglomerate Usted Elige. Another survey puts Morales at 36 percent, six points ahead of Quiroga.

Bolivians will choose regional governors by direct elections for the first time. Previously, they were chosen by the president.

Bolivia has had political turbulence since 2003, with massive anti-government protests, which finally forced the resignation of then-president Gonzalo Sanchez.

Source: Xinhua