Quotes of the Day

Francesco Rutelli was a lucky winner last year, at least in soccer. He roots for Lazio, who on the last day of the season managed to snatch the first-division title away from perennial powerhouse Juventus. Even in soccer, however, Rutelli is a man of contradictions. Lazio draws right-wing fans, while cross-town rival Roma is the stronghold of the left. While Rutelli has condemned the racist taunts of die-hard Laziali at Olympic Stadium, it remains a mystery how the leader of the left can cheer alongside rightist hooligans. But Italian soccer is strange. After all Silvio Berlusconi, Rutelli's opponent in the upcoming general election, bought AC Milan, whose fan base is mostly left-leaning.

Rutelli, a former mayor of Rome who describes himself as a "liberal Democrat, an environmentalist and a Catholic," has frequently found himself straddling the fence. One of his nicknames is "The Pleaser" because he tries to keep everyone happy. Last summer he was caught between the Vatican, which was celebrating a Holy Year, and gay rights activists, who chose the Eternal City to host their World Pride festivities. It wasn't easy, but he managed to come through relatively unscathed. "His weakness is that he wants to please everyone," says Emma Bonino, a Radical Party leader.

Rutelli, 46, well-tanned, athletic and stylish, is a likable guy. But voters must decide whether they think he's more than Pretty Boy Frank. "The reason I was chosen was that I am not a leader from a traditional leftist party," he says. "I come from the Radicals and the Greens, but I've always been in alliance with the left against the right." Many voters and some of the pundits see May 13 as a vote for or against Berlusconi, but Rutelli stresses that this is not a direct election for Prime Minister, and that Italians will be voting not for one man but for a coalition and its policies. "On our side there is a leader, not a boss," he says.

Berlusconi has acknowledged that Rutelli presents a positive, youthful image — "He could be the public relations guy for one of my companies." But Berlusconi refused to debate Rutelli, perhaps for the very reason that his opponent's image could undermine a Berlusconi lead in the polls.

Rutelli stresses his experience as mayor of Rome for seven years, and the quality of the people on his team. Current Prime Minister Giuliano Amato and Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini have both said they would serve in a Rutelli government. "This was not automatic," the candidate says. "We're rebuilding. I knew I had to change the wheels of the train while the train was running." Berlusconi got off to a quicker start than Rutelli. Berlusconi came out early with clean messages on lower taxes and higher pensions, while Rutelli was forced into saying the promises are unrealistic. Rutelli thinks he's closing the gap but, if the opinion polls are to be believed, like Lazio he will need a lot of luck on the last day of the season.

• GREG BURKE / Rome
• Former Rome Mayor Francesco Rutelli is trying to give Berlusconi a run for his money