He cited Dwight Eisenhower, Charles de Gaulle, and Hafez Assad as examples. Dalloul reiterated his support for Lahoud a few days ago, but there have been no other official or semi-official endorsements of him yet. Journalists who write about the subject tend to tip all possible contenders in one go, while knowing that there is always the possibility that Hrawi's term might be extended again. They have learnt from experience that the choice is not that simple, and that the selection of a Lebanese president remains a product of Arab political calculations beyond Lebanon's borders. A few months ago, when Syrian Defense Minister Mustafa Tlass visited Lebanon to inspect Syrian units based in the country, he lavished praise on Lahoud for the way he had rebuilt the military establishment.
All Lebanese politicians have their alliances which make it relatively easy to gauge their support.
But Lahoud's only bloc is the army. He lacks both declared enemies and declared supporters in the political echelon. He shuns pomposity, appearances and showiness. He avoids the hectic social networking that characterizes Beirut, where everyone frenetically cultivates contacts and connections. And above all he has a reputation for honesty and integrity.