Rodrigo Paz is hardly an outsider. His experience in politics runs two decades deep, having served as mayor, councillor, deputy and senator. His popularity has only grown since adding Edman Lara – nicknamed "Captain Lara" – to the ticket as vice-president.

Early official results in Bolivia showed the centrist Rodrigo Paz of the Christian Democratic Party leading Sunday's presidential race, with a surprise 32.04% of the vote according to the country's electoral tribunal.

STORY: Early official results in Bolivia show the country's ruling leftists on track for their worst defeat in a generation.Instead the electoral tribunal says centrist senator Rodrigo Paz of the Christian Democratic Party is leading the election late Sunday.