The first presidential election debate in Indonesia today between the incumbent Joko Widodo and his challenger Prabowo Subianto takes place exactly three months before polls open on April 17. Having Dr Ma’ruf – a respected senior cleric in a country with the world’s largest Muslim population – on the President’s joint ticket initially seemed like a smart move. However, Dr Ma’ruf no longer look such an inspired choice. While it is understandable that Dr Ma’ruf may be hamstrung in appealing to the young and moderate, he has also failed to gain the support of the Muslim conservative groups he was expected to deliver, said RSIS research fellow Alexander Arifianto.