"Foreign powers are funneling money into the country ahead of the elections. On May 15, Mr. Siniora unveiled a $20 million grant from Saudi Arabia, a big supporter of his government. ....An official in Mr. Siniora's office said the Saudi gift for the dump wasn't intended to win votes. A Saudi official said the kingdom doesn't pick sides in foreign elections, and grants such as the one for Sidon are awarded on humanitarian merit.Mr. Siniora is campaigning alongside the richer and better connected Hariris. But along the waterfront, Mr. Saad has a historical advantage. His father, Maarouf, a former Sidon mayor, was assassinated at a fishermen's demonstration in the 1970s.
Recently, though, Mr. Saad has had to compete with lavish spending from his better-financed rivals.
Lebanon has campaign-spending rules that cap outlays by candidates. But across the country, the line between charitable giving and vote-buying is blurry....
Mr. Saad also used cash from his own pocket to help the fishermen during the summer shutdown, .......Mr. Hariri, the (FUTURE) spokesman, confirmed the Hariri charity handed out cash, but said it was only $200 per family....
Mr. Al Roz, the fisherman who lost his boat, says he hadn't cared much for politics until his mishap at sea. About 6 a.m. on March 2, he set out for a day of fishing in his small skiff. .....Four days later, the boat was salvaged. A team from the Hariri charity came by to assess damages and agreed to give Mr. Al Roz the $2,000.
"I cannot but thank them for what they did," he says....
Fisherman Mustafa Aleyli, 19, idling near his boat one late afternoon last month, says his father and brother -- both fishermen -- are loyal Saad supporters. But in this election, he's voting for Ms. Hariri because of her charity to the fishing community. "People follow the politician who supports them," he says with a shrug."
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