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Blitar, a small East Java city 170-kilometers south of Surabaya, holds special significance for three candidates running in the presidential election.

The city is the birthplace of Sukarno, Indonesia’s founding president and the father of contender Megawati Sukarnoputri. Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s mother comes from Blitar and so is his running mate, Boediono.

For years, the city was a stronghold for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Blitar Mayor Djarot Syaiful Hidayat and Blitar district House Speaker Muhammad Samanhudi Anwar are members of the party.

But during the April 9 legislative elections, the PDI-P lost its footing, finishing second to the Democratic Party.

Although the PDI-P still won in the wider Blitar district, the legislative defeat was a significant blow to the party.

The loss now seems to have been an early sign of a growing trend as Megawati appeared to have been widely defeated by Yudhoyono on Wednesday across the country, even in PDI-P strongholds, according to quick counts.

At polling station 5 in Kepanjen Lor, near the headquarters of Kawula Alit, an organization affiliated with the PDI-P, Megawati received 110 votes to Yudhoyono’s 194. In Istana Gebang, the area where Sukarno’s childhood home is located, Megawati- received 74 votes to Yudhoyono’s 175.

The victory of the Democratic Party in the legislative elections and its likely win in the presidential race have been attributed to the positive perception of President Yudhoyono’s first term.

“I voted for President Yudhoyono because he is the most representative candidate. He is charismatic and wise,” said Muhammad Basuki, a resident of Kalipucung village.

Suhud, also a resident of Kalipucung, said Megawati did not perform well during her presidential tenure or during the recent debates.
“I didn’t understand the points she made during the debates, they were indecipherable,” he said.

Suhud was also concerned that if Megawati were elected her running mate Prabowo Subianto would play a prominent role.

Blitar voters, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they were disappointed with the performance of PDI-P, particularly in the leadership of Samanhudi, the district House speaker.

Samanhudi denied PDI-P’s poor showing during the legislative elections was caused by dissatisfaction with the party.

“The Democratic Party did not have a landslide victory during the legislative elections.

PDI-P still reigns supreme in Blitar district,” he told the Jakarta Globe after casting his vote on Wednesday.

Samanhudi said that instead of criticizing the Blitar city administration, people should take a look at the development throughout the municipality.

“Where else do you see good roads all over the city like in here?” Samanhudi said. “We don’t have slums here, you cannot find any houses made from bamboo. Students from elementary school to high school don’t need to pay for books, either. And we give out incentives for religious teachers and poor people.”

“If people can’t see that, they’re hypocrites,” he said.

The Democrats managed to build an emotional connection to the city, turning Boediono’s family home into the focal point for campaign activities.

The Boediono house was filled with cheers on Wednesday afternoon as televised quick-count results showed that Yudhoyono had won more than 50 percent of the votes in the municipality.

In stark contrast the spacious headquarters of PDI-P affiliated Kawula Alit in Kepanjen Lor were deserted.