Candidates say lack of security harms their chances

Not everyone is allowed to know that Rawaa al-Oggaidi is running for office. "I receive phone calls asking me if I'm taking part in the polls. I deny it, saying I've been mistaken for someone with a similar name," said the candidate from Mosul, one of Iraq's most violent cities. Other precautions Oggaidi takes against attack include staying indoors all the time and limiting her campaign team to close relatives. A member of the opposition Iraqiya list, she only makes direct contact with friends and trusted supporters, mostly through the phone or the internet. "I've turned my home into a workshop. My husband and family help promote my message by circulating flyers," she said. "If it wasn't for the current security situation, I would be visiting schools and hospitals and holding discussions with the voters." Iraq holds a nationwide parliamentary election on March 7, and candidates in several provinces fear the threat of violence could harm their chances. Many entering the race independently, or with smaller or opposition blocs, say they cannot afford the security available to better-funded rivals.