Two conservative challengers were practically tied for the lead in Honduras’ presidential contest with votes from about 55% of polling places counted early Monday, according to preliminary and partial results.

After initial excitement at both parties' campaign headquarters Sunday night, the streets of the capital were generally quiet Monday as the count slowly advanced.

The previous day's vote had come just days after U.S. President Donald Trump intervened in a close race by endorsing one of those candidates and announcing that he would pardon a former president.

The National Electoral Council said that fewer than 5,000 votes separated Nasry “Tito” Asfura of the National Party who had 40% of votes in early counting, while Salvador Nasralla, of the conservative Liberal Party, had about 39.78%.

Rixi Moncada of the democratic socialist LIBRE or Liberty and Re-foundation party trailed with 19.18%.

Both Asfura and Nasralla had said Sunday night it was still early in the count and resisted declaring victory.

Just days before the vote, U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed him, saying he would fight “narco-communists” with the United States and was the only Honduran candidate his administration would work with.

Trump shocked Hondurans on Friday by announcing that he would pardon former National Party President Juan Orlando Hernández, who was one year into a 45-year sentence in a U.S. prison for helping drug traffickers move cocaine to the United States.

Many Hondurans said it would not affect their votes with security and employment on the top of mind for many voters.

Hondurans also elected a new Congress on Sunday, as well as voting for hundreds of local positions.

AP video by Elmer Martínez