Presidential candidates are bending over backwards to secure high profile backers, reports Amani Maged The countdown to presidential elections has started. Candidates are beginning to court support, not least from the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). Many suspect the father of modern Islamist movements holds the keys to the presidential palace. They are knocking on its doors to pay respects, mouth compliments and otherwise curry favour. Meanwhile the MB, and its political wing the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), say they have yet to decide who they will support, leading to frenzied speculation in the press. Candidates are playing their MB courting cards in various ways. One offered heartfelt regrets for the persecution meted out against the group under Gamal Abdel-Nasser. A second claimed to have received "messages" from the Brotherhood supporting his candidacy. A third has become a frequent visitor the FJP's headquarters. Candidates are also scrambling to win the support of the Salafist parties, and not a few are chasing the Wafd. The boast of one FJP source -- that the MB's backing means an easy stroll along the red carpet to the presidential palace -- is obviously being taken seriously by a number of candidates. That backing, though, will not necessarily be explicit. The MB's leadership cannot put its full weight behind a candidate without taking a variety of considerations into account, including its already declared stances and relationship with MB branches elsewhere in the world. Any MB choice will be governed by clear no-goes. No candidate, for example, can have been a member of the organisation. This is a position the MB leadership is determined to adhere to. Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh is out of the running as far as MB backing is concerned. Although MB leaders have insisted there will be no change on the issue, one MB source has suggested the FJP could declare neutrality with respect to presidential candidates. This would be a signal that MB members and supporters could vote for Abul-Fotouh. He added the proviso that the MB must declare a position on Abul-Fotouh. It cannot turn a blind eye to the fact he defied the group's prohibition against members running for president. It was an act of insubordination that deepened the generation gap within the MB organisation. A second no-go is a candidate associated with the military establishment. The MB still bears scars from decades of military rule. Nor will any figure associated with the Mubarak regime stand a chance of MB endorsement, however persistently he might fawn over the residents of FJP headquarters. The MB is looking for a candidate with an Islamic frame-of-reference, committed to the causes of the Islamic nation but at the same time supportive of a consensual approach towards other Egyptian political trends. Abul-Fotouh is not the only Islamist candidate worried about the MB. Mohamed Selim El-Awwa and Salah Abu Ismail also realise that MB backing could be a major campaign asset, especially given the group's organisational abilities. El-Awwa in particular, say sources, is desperate to secure MB support. The Wasat Party is keen to bridge the positions of El-Awwa and Abul-Fotouh in the hope that one of them will pull out of the race and thus prevent a split in the moderate Islamist vote. The party's central committee has formed a committee to negotiate with the two candidates in an attempt to secure this end. So far El-Awwa remains determined to run and has suggested if anyone steps out of the race it must be Abul-Fotouh. Yet the signs are that Abul- Fotouh's popularity is rising. Not only is he likely to win the support of many young Muslim Brothers -- much to the chagrin of the group's leaders -- many liberals are increasingly disposed to vote for him. Any speculation on the prospects of Tareq El-Bishri and Hossam El-Gheriani has been laid to rest. They will not receive MB backing. The same applies to Abu Ismail, who is supported by Salafist youth groups and 200 Salafi preachers. Liberal presidential hopefuls are having a much more difficult time finding backers. Since Mansour Hassan, the chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) appointed advisory council, declared his candidacy the Wafd Party shifted its support from Amr Moussa to him. Young Wafdists were incensed by the decision and issued a statement in which they declared their support for Mohamed El-Omda, a Wafd MP who only recently announced his intention to stand in the presidential elections. Although the party's board was sharply divided between supporters of Moussa and Hassan, it ultimately opted for the latter. Moussa was disappointed by the party's withdrawal of support, which he described as an insult to the legacy of the Wafd Party and to himself. He accused Wafd leaders of striking a deal with some group or faction but refused to provide any further details. Ahmed Shafik's military background has led to rumours he is SCAF's preferred candidate. Film star Adel Imam has also agreed to make a campaign ad for Shafik free of charge. Other candidates have also been busy soliciting celebrity backing. Shaaban Abdel-Rahim has already recorded a song in support of Amr Moussa. The singer has said he is ready to accompany Moussa to rallies and conventions across Egypt. Actor Khaled El-Sawi has declared his support for Nasserist Party candidate Hamdeen Sabahi. Amr Waked is backing rights activist Khaled Ali who kicked off his campaign with a huge billboard in downtown Cairo appealing to young voters. From the world of sports, international football referee Ahmed El-Garhi has called on fellow referees to help on his campaign tours. In a country where football enthusiasts are legion this might be an asset. There are many candidates, but their aim is one, to become Egypt's first post-revolutionary president. The race has only just begun but they all know how crucial high-profile support will be in achieving their aim.
