Sen. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner - Reuters

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters):

Argentina's legendary first lady, Eva Peron, died more than 50 years ago but she is still a force in this year's presidential election.

Many Argentines admire 'Evita,' the wife of former President Juan Peron, for helping women get the vote, winning labour benefits for miners and meat packers, and founding hospitals and orphanages.

The lingering fervour over an elegant first lady of yesteryear has quietly helped the presidential campaign of today's first lady Sen. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, a lifelong Peronist.

Polls show that Fernandez will win the October 28 election with the bulk of her support in poor and working class neighbourhoods that are strongly Peronist and where the cult of Evita persists even though few people under the age of 65 can actually remember her.

Fernandez, 54, was born a year after Evita died and has led a very different life, but her followers see similarities.

"She reminds me a lot of Evita. Her power, her conviction, the way she uses words. She's so smart. I admire her," said 72-year-old Norma, who declined to give her last name, at a recent campaign rally in the Peronist stronghold of Matanza outside Buenos Aires.

Some supporters are thrilled that a woman is now leading the Peronist Movement and hope she will carry on Evita's work.