Lirsautton – Celes Aguard, Governor of the Mies system and candidate in the upcoming Gallente Federation presidential election, attracted a crowd numbering in the thousands for a political rally at the planet Chakaux in the Lirsautton system yesterday. Aguard spoke at length of her Jin-Mei heritage and the promise to sponsor the development of “fringe worlds and minority communities,” gaining positive reactions from those assembled.

“When frontier settlements starve under Caldari blockades, and riots and panic spreads among those who feel they are voiceless, all our leaders can say is ‘toughen up,’” said Aguard in her speech. “Fear is a powerful motivator, but it has failed to quell the governmental apathy toward the minorities of the Federation.”

Many of Aguard’s supporters agreed with this sentiment. “I am a strong supporter for maintaining the independent cultures of groups such as the Jin-Mei, Mannar and Intaki,” says Cephan Langlier, a civil rights lawyer in Lirsautton who attended the rally. “I would be ecstatic to see a president who gives more than token support to the minority cultures of the Federation.”

Governor Aguard is expected to follow her tour of the Everyshore region with several rallies and debates in the Essence region next month.

Reactions to Senator Vilard Garioss’s Presidential bid have proven to be mixed, with supporters citing his positive reputation in the senate, commitment to peace, and background in economics, while detractors point to his low profile in Federation politics, opposition to the war, and inconsistent voting history on non-economic policies.

“Senator Garioss has long been popular with his constituents,” said Kep Ekatemi, political analyst for the University of Caille. “He has been a stable hand in the government for over a decade. He is widely respected by his peers. He is known as an intelligent man, but one who is humble at the same time. And while he has not been at the center of any high-profile bills or movements, he has worked diligently behind the scenes to improve the well being of the Gallente people. He has chosen to make the war a central theme of his campaign, obviously focused on ending it. Anyone who knows the man would have predicted this; he is a great conciliator, wishing nothing more than for everyone to live in peace for the benefit of all. The Federation could use a man of his learning and compassion in these troubled times.”

Stiff opposition to the Senator is rare, though political commentator Rourke L’feene has been among the most vocal in decrying his anti-war rhetoric. “The fact is, the Caldari State is run by a war mongering dictator who wants to see the Federation burned. They will not respond to peaceful overtures and putting someone as weak-willed as Vilard Garioss into power will be a death kneel for our great nation.”

Many common people have responded with apathy to Senator Garioss’s campaign, however. “I’ve never heard of him before now,” said Lamia Ire, a student at the Center for Advanced Studies. “I know he’s against the war, which I agree with, but I think he may be a little extreme in it. I’d really need to know more.”