Argentina's Peronist economy chief Sergio Massa faces a fierce battle for middle-ground votes with far-right libertarian Javier Milei ahead of a run-off next month, though the center-left runner has his nose in front after a surprise first round win. Massa, the current economy minister who has helmed the country amid its worst economic crisis in two decades, pulled in nearly 37% of the vote in the general election on Sunday, some 9.6 million people, versus Milei with 30% and 7.9 million. Up for grabs are 8.8 million votes that went to the three losing candidates, conservative Patricia Bullrich, moderate Peronist governor Juan Schiaretti and leftist Myriam Bregman.