Bolivia's Morales favorite in presidential race-poll

LA PAZ, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales is the clear favorite to win re-election in December, according to an opinion poll published on Tuesday.

Morales, the Andean country's first Indian president, nationalized energy, mining and telecommunications companies in his first term and has vowed to further increase the government's role in the economy if he wins the Dec. 6 presidential election.

He is also promising to spend heavily in social projects including roads, hydroelectric dams, hospitals and schools, and expand political rights for indigenous peoples.

According to the Ipsos Apoyo poll published by La Razon newspaper, some 52 percent of voters support Morales, while his closest contender, Manfred Reyes, the former governor of the central region of Cochabamba, has 21 percent support.

Conservative politician Samuel Doria Medina, a wealthy cement businessman, trailed far behind with 13 percent.

To avoid a runoff Morales needs to win more than 50 percent of the votes, or more than 45 percent and a 10 point lead over the runner-up.

Congressional elections also will take place on Dec. 6.

Morales, an Aymara Indian who herded llamas as a child, needs a solid victory to dominate Congress, which would allow his party to pass legislation without opposition input.

He has long complained that right-wing parties have used their slim majority in the Senate to block dozens of bills proposed by his Movement Toward Socialism party.