"We are certain that Jadranka Kosor will win the elections and will do everything to see that happen," Sanader said at a news conference.
Expressing confidence in her victory, Kosor said her being nominated a presidential candidate was a big step forward which she believed citizens would know how to appreciate. She called on party members and citizens to support her candidacy in the upcoming elections.
Answering reporters' questions, she said that she was not intimidated by incumbent President Stjepan Mesic's candidacy, because she had had a satisfactory 17 percent rating at the time when she was not a candidate.
Asked about Kosor's chances considering opinion polls, Sanader said it was not true that Kosor was rated second, third or fourth in internal party opinion polls. According to one party opinion poll, she was first, he said.
Another reason for nominating Kosor a presidential candidate was an opinion poll commissioned by the HDZ, which focused on characteristics the president of the republic is expected to have. The opinion poll covered 2,000 citizens, Sanader said.
Asked about her advantages in the presidential race, Kosor said she would speak about them before the party's senior bodies. She voiced confidence that she would receive the support of both male and female voters, as well as some 40 women's NGOs.
The HDZ National Committee resumed its session after the news conference.