Vienna - Ever since Vice Chancellor Wilhelm Molterer became head of the conservative People's Party (OeVP) in early 2007, he has struggled to turn himself into a leading man who can make his party retake the Chancellorship from the social democratic SPOe.

Although the 53-year-old politician did well in some of the television debates during the election race, even some of his party members were unhappy with his campaign posters, which showed an ill-at-ease Molterer striking unnatural poses.

Despite his image problems, the vice chancellor is a seasoned politician.

After studying agronomy, Molterer was active in the farmers' association of the OeVP, while also working in the ministry of agriculture. In 1994, he became agriculture minister himself.

After a stint as head of the conservative faction in parliament from 2003 to 2006, he was sworn in as vice chancellor and finance minister in 2007, when the OeVP formed a coalition as a junior partner of the social democrats, led by Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer.

Although the OeVP leader was known as a progressive conservative in his youth who conducted sociological studies among farmers, his election campaign has focused on issues associated with the far right, such as security and the integration of foreigners.

Molterer, who grew up on a farm in Upper Austria, is backed and influenced by his party's former leader, former chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel.

When Molterer declared that "It's enough!," ending his party's cooperation with the social democrats in July, few doubted that Schuessel was involved in this step.

If the conservative top candidate fails to overtake the social democrats and make the OeVP Austria's strongest party, Molterer's days as OeVP chief are likely numbered. (dpa)