Mazhar, a lanky figure in a neat shirt and jacket, looked too polished and urbane to appeal to rural voters, but he proved himself a strong challenger. Orban, 62, is a village boy who speaks village Hungarian, while Magyar is an educated Budapest lawyer. Recognizing that his status as a member of the metropolitan elite made him unlikely to attract rural voters, Magyar has spent the past two years tirelessly touring the countryside, drawing large crowds. Unlike Orban, who waxes lyrical about global politics, Magyar focuses his speeches on domestic issues such as health care, education, transportation and rural depopulation.
