COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, WORLD NEWS: Citizens of the Dominican Republic are awaiting the final results in a presidential election that has turned into a cliff-hanger. Hipolito Mejia of the Dominican Revolutionary Party has 49.9 percent of Tuesday's vote but needs an outright majority to avoid a run-off. CNN's Harris Whitbeck has this report now from Santo Domingo.</s>HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They paraded a goat through the streets of Santo Domingo to show that it was a countryman who had beat the traditional and conservative political elite. Thousands of sympathizers of Hipolito Mejia say the people now will wield power in the Dominican Republic. "We are tired of the people's suffering and that capitalist governments continue to rule without thinking of the poor," said this man. But the candidate, who Tuesday night claimed victory in the first round of voting, showed a more conciliatory stance. "We are opening doors so the whole Dominican family can work together," he said. One thing all Dominicans agree on is that a trouble-free election ensures a smooth transition. "Our democracy is growing," said this man, "this election is proof that there is much more respect for democracy here." The stability of Dominican democracy will depend to a great extent on Mejia's ability to reconcile his leftist campaign promises with the economic reality of the country. During current president Leonel Fernandez' administration, the economy experienced the highest growth rate in Latin America, about 8 percent per year. Mejia said during his campaign that the benefits of that growth had not reached the country's neediest. Hundreds of thousands of peasants gave him their support, hoping for improvements in their living and working conditions. (on camera): The challenge will be to redistribute the country's refound wealth without upsetting the economic reforms that allowed it. Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Santo Domingo.
Mejia Appears Headed For Victory in Dominican Republic  Presidential Elections