U.S. Accused of Meddling in Nicaraguan Election

Rumsfeld’s visit to Nicaragua comes two months prior to that country’s presidential election. Polls show former Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega as the front-runner. The Bush administration has openly opposed Ortega’s candidacy and has backed his top opponent, Eduardo Montealegre. Supporters of Ortega have accused the U.S. of meddling in the election. Last year the State Department’s top diplomat for Latin America, Roger Noriega, warned that “Nicaragua would sink like a stone” should Ortega win.