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Per Reza Aslan, author of a book on the history of Islam, Ahmadinejad got elected due to his position on economic improvement:
While Rafsanjani and the other half-dozen or so presidential candidates stumbled over each other with promises of social reform and rapprochement with the West, Ahmadinejad promised to stop corruption in the government, distribute aid to the outlying provinces, promote healthcare, raise the minimum wage and help the young with home and business loans. Amid all the talk of head scarves and pop music from the front-runners, Ahmadinejad’s message had enormous appeal not just for Iran’s poor, but also for the country’s youth, many of whom were attracted to Rafsanjani’s promises of reform but who ultimately voted with their pocketbooks for Ahmadinejad.
In fact, the crumbling economy — perhaps even more than the mass arrests and political repression — is to blame for Iranian’s widespread disenchantment with the reform movement. After all, when nearly a third of the population is unemployed and about 40% live below the poverty line, it is nearly impossible to focus on social reform
It’s very interesting that even in Iran, even in this largely-rigged election, Democracy permitted the voice of the people to be heard on some key matters.
Ahmadinejad’s jihadist views continue to make Iran a danger to the world; a nuclear Iran must not be tolerated.
But like the Iraqis, the people of Iran – suffering due to decades of repression – might welcome freedom.
