In 2005, Fitial beat Hofschneider by 84 votes in a four-way race.
“It’s Heinz,” the governor said when asked who he thinks is his closest rival.
Unlike the two other Independent gubernatorial candidates, former Sens. Juan T. Guerrero and Ramon S. Deleon Guerrero, Hofschneider is backed by a resurgent Republican Party which is also poised to win more legislative seats next month.
Fitial said he’s prepared for the outcome of the election but hopes he would still be given another chance.
He added that he’s humbled by his supporters’ show of support.
“In general, I am very pleased with the support that they are giving me,” he said.
“Ever since I came into this job, I’ve had only one [goal] and that is finding solutions. I’ve been working on solutions. I never say no for an answer. That has been my modus operandi.”
Under the law enacted following the 2005 race, a gubernatorial team must now get 50 percent plus 1 of the votes cast to win this year’s election.
A runoff election will be held between the top two gubernatorial tickets.
A total of 109 candidates are vying for 43 elected positions this year, and over 16,000 have registered to vote.
