Rutelli was tapped by the fractious centre-left to head the national ticket last autumn, with the incumbent Premier Giuliano Amato pushed aside in the face of sagging polls. Polls show Berlusconi, one of the richest men in the world, has a good chance of defeating Rutelli who is running for national office for the first time. In an already bitter contest, the centre-left unsuccessfully tried to pass a conflict of interest law aimed at Berlusconi and his enormous media holdings, which include three television networks. Berlusconi's other ally, Gianfranco Fini, heads a party that grew out of the Fascist Party. Rutelli was Rome's mayor for seven years, winning high marks for managing the city during a Roman Catholic Holy Year that brought 25 million pilgrims to the city last year.
Municipal elections are to be held the same day.
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