A recently conducted poll shows that while former Muslim Brotherhood leader Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa head the presidential field ahead of elections scheduled for May, 54 percent of Egyptians have still not settled on a candidate. 75 percent of the undecided hold a diploma while 43 percent have a university degree.
The poll, conducted by new pollster Baseera and published on Tuesday exclusively in Al-Masry Al-Youm, interviewed 2,129 Egyptian citizens comprising different economic backgrounds and living in various governorates. The polling concluded on 19 April.
According to the poll, Abouel Fotouh was on top with 15 percent support, followed by Moussa with 12 percent. Behind them were former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq with six percent and Karama Party head Hamdeen Sabbahi with five percent.
The Muslim Brotherhood's nominee, Mohamed Morsy, received only 1.5 percent support, and Islamist lawyer Mohamed Selim al-Awa, another prominent candidate, only 1.3.
The results contradict a different poll conducted by Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies from 14 to 17 April, which had Moussa pacing the field with 40 percent and Abouel Fotouh in second with 25.2 percent.
Respondents with university degrees preferred Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh by 26 percent versus 10 percent for Amr Moussa, while 12 percent of respondents with diplomas preferred Moussa versus five percent for Abouel Fotouh.
Holders of a high school certificate were split evenly between both candidates.
The survey showed that Abouel Fotouh is preferred by the younger generation, with 21 percent saying they would vote for him versus 11 percent for Moussa, while 13.3 percent of those over the age of 50 were for Moussa, versus 11.7 percent for Abouel Fotouh.
Moussa scored 13 percent among the lower-income category, versus eight percent for Abul Fotouh, while 13 percent of the upper-income category preferred Mousa, versus 29 percent for Abouel Fotouh.
According to the survey, 54 percent of those who had voted for the Freedom and Justice Party in the parliamentary elections have not decided who they will vote for, 17 percent intend to vote for Abouel Fotouh, 10 percent for Moussa and six percent for Ahmed Shafiq.
60 percent of people who voted for the Nour Party in parliamentary elections are undecided, 17 percent intend to choose Abouel Fotouh, eight percent Moussa and eight percent Shafiq.
30 percent of people who voted for the Wafd Party in parliamentary elections are undecided, 29 percent intend to choose Moussa, 14 percent Abouel Fotouh and 14 percent Hamdeen Sabbahi.
28 percent of people who voted for the Egyptian Bloc are undecided, 34 percent plan to vote for Moussa, 17 percent for Abouel Fotouh and six percent for Shafiq.
Since an earlier Baseera survey conducted on 10 April, the number of voters backing Moussa increased, likely due to the exclusion of 10 presidential hopefuls by the Presidential Elections Commission.
When asked who they would prefer for vice president, most Abouel Fotouh and Shafiq supporters chose Sabbahi, while most Moussa supporters preferred Shafiq.
The survey was conducted on landline and mobile phones. Baseera estimated that the poll had a margin of error at less than three percent, adding that polls conducted over the phone return quick results, which is important for surveys about the presidential election. Baseera added that the weak security situation in Egypt made respondents reluctant to receive a researcher in their home.
