Ponta's USL tried but failed to kick out right-wing President Traian Basescu earlier this year, in an impeachment referendum. Analysts have said Basescu, a rival of the USL who will nominate the next prime minister, may not choose Ponta, the USL's choice for the job. That could delay the formation of a new government and complicate talks over a new deal with the IMF. Any uncertainty would also hit the value of Romanian assets.
Roughly 5,000 people attended the rally in Craiova, 320 km west of Bucharest, home of US carmaker Ford and a USL flagship town. It was one of the few rallies by any party in this campaign. "I must vote," Florin Sanda, a 27-year-old electrician said at the rally. "Given the opposing candidates, the USL stands out." The ruling leftists have benefited from voter disillusionment with Basescu and his allies in the previous centrist government which pushed through unpopular public sector wage cuts and hiked sales tax to shore up public finances.