NYT reported Campaigning in Egypt's first multicandidate presidential election kicked off Wednesday with President Hosni Mubarak - unchallenged for 24 years and almost certain to win - trying to depict himself as just another competitor in a 10-member race. The Sept. 7 election is the cornerstone of Mr. Mubarak's reform program, and his government is trying to show it will be a fair race to convince skeptical Egyptians it is serious about greater democracy. Previously, Mr. Mubarak ran uncontested in yes-no referendums. But the United States has been pressing Mr. Mubarak, one of its closest Arab allies, to move ahead with democratic change, and the fairness of the election is a major test of Washington's policy of promoting democracy in the Middle East.
Democracy is wonderful
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