Endorsements tilt race against Petro ahead of Colombia’s runoff

Colombia’s election proved yet again how hard it is to be the ruling party in today’s Latin America. Especially if you are perceived as part of a long-established clique struggling to connect with ordinary citizens’ real lives and problems. Two outsiders, Gustavo Petro and Rodolfo Hernández, took first and second place to secure their spot in a head-to-head runoff three weeks from now, on June 19. 

Mr. Petro, a former guerrilla leader running on a platform of economic re-distribution, green reform, and feminism, got 40.3 percent of the national vote.

But it was his rival, Rodolfo Hernández, a populist construction tycoon with a somewhat unclear platform for the country, who stole most of the headlines after staging, within a matter of two weeks, a come-from-behind rally to go from a dark horse to get over 28 percent of the vote.

Momentum now seems to be in Mr. Hernández’s favor. Federico “Fico” Gutiérrez, the establishment conservative candidate who was bumped out of the race, has endorsed the populist candidate for the second round.

“Our country is always above everything for me, for [vice-presidential candidate] Rodrigo [Lara], and for both of our families. We don’t want to put the future of Colombia at risk. This is why we will vote for Rodolfo [Hernández],” Mr. Gutiérrez said in an invitation to a broad right-wing coalition.

“[Mr. Hernández] is the real change for the country and he will defeat Gustavo...