HIS choice of respected economist and former central bank chief Boediono as his running mate has also left him open to opposition charges of 'neo-liberalism', a label Dr Yudhoyono rejects.
'We're certainly not neo-lib. A neo-lib government doesn't stress the importance of the government's role and good governance,' Democratic Party economic advisor Darwin Saleh said.
The presence of ex-military men in all three leading campaigns is evidence, analysts say, that old military elites remain powerful in Indonesia 11 years after the fall of general Suharto, who died of natural causes last year.
During months of public negotiations over power-sharing deals, Ms Megawati and Mr Kalla both chose former generals with records of human rights abuses from the Suharto era as their running mates.
Ms Megawati teamed up with notorious special forces ex-commander Prabowo Subianto, who is accused of serious abuses including the kidnapping of democracy activists in the late 1990s.
Mr Kalla chose former military chief Wiranto, who has been indicted by United Nations prosecutors for crimes against humanity over East Timor's bloody independence referendum in 1999.
'One thing we need to emphasise here is that the world's third largest democracy isn't necessarily the third best,' University of Indonesia political analyst Makmur Keliat said.
Analysts said irregularities and disorganisation that marred the legislative elections should not be allowed to cast any shadow over the results of Wednesday's vote.
'There are still chances of vote buying on the eve or in the morning (of the election). I hope there'll be a run-off so this election can be more democratic,' Mr Bhakti said.
A second round will be held in September if no candidate gains a clear majority in Wednesday's vote. -- AFP