slowing growth combined with extremely high inflation, 55% last month, have nibbled away at support for Turkey's leader and his governing coalition. Anger has also mounted after Turkey's red crescent was revealed to have sold thousands of tents to a charity instead of distributing them for free. And so Mr Kirchstarolu seems to have seized the momentum despite the drama. One poll gave him a double digit lead over Mr Erdogan. Another more recent poll gives him a margin of up to eight points,. But obviously when it comes to someone like Mr Erdogan, not insurmountable.