6%. .
By the time the presidential election of 1970 had arrived, three significant political groups were contending for office. Salvador Allende was the running candidate for the socialist left; ex-President Jorge Alessandri represented the capitalist right, while Radomiro Tomic represented the reformist center. Each group claimed to be the most "truly Chilean" and all made promises to rectify the mistakes of the Frei regime. .
Allende's Popular Front (UP) was composed of mostly unionized workers who had not succeeded in getting more control over their own future. The influence of the Christian Democrat Party (PDC), or the aristocrats, was an essential element of the election. It was a crucial component to success and eventually Allende received the backing of the PDC because he promised that the UP would not "alter the democratic system that the constitution guaranteed". .
The growing support for the Popular Front was composed of socialists, communists, radicals, independents, retired military officials, and ex-Christian Democrats of Social Democrats. Allende advocated for an "alliance of principle" and promised to control inflation, increase employment, expand schools, and return the power to the State. His propaganda focused on the inefficiency of previous political parties and the ability to create reform that would not violate workers, but protect the poor instead. Allende asserted that "workers, peasants, students, professionals, and small and medium businessmen will all share in the new found freedom and increasing equality". Many felt that Allende "spoke rationally, measurably, and always showed a good sense of humor he appeared more like a politician than a revolutionary". .
The importance of keeping politics within peaceful bounds also played an important role in the election of 1970. Former President Alessandri who represented the capitalist right in the election made one notable mistake that undermined his party politics.