 Sobisch is also seen as an ally of former Justicialist Party President Carlos Menem and had hoped to become the candidate of those Peronists opposed to President Néstor Kirchner.Following a scandal in his home province, concerning the April 7 death of local teachers' union member Carlos Fuentealba (who was reportedly fired upon by provincial police during a protest despite being unarmed), Sobisch was largely shunned by disgruntled Peronists who mainly backed Alberto Rodríguez Saá.Sobisch was, however, backed by crime victims' rights activist Juan Carlos Blumberg.