Bachelet has big lead in Chile election but may face runoff

By Rosalba O'Brien SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Leftist candidate Michelle Bachelet was the clear winner in Chile's presidential election on Sunday, although she may have to wait until a second round runoff next month to seal her victory. With nine candidates running, the vote was fractured and Bachelet, seeking her second term as president, was falling short of the 50 percent she needed for an outright first-round victory. Bachelet, who led Chile between 2006 and 2010 as its first female president, had 46.6 percent support with 54.6 percent of votes counted on Sunday night. Evelyn Matthei of the ruling right-wing coalition was second with 25.2 percent.