The candidates mostly agree, however, on reducing the government's large fiscal deficit, like many business leaders. "We Argentines must stop arguing about obvious things like public spending," said Javier Goni, CEO of agribusiness company Ledesma. The election is playing out as the government struggles to service its $44 billion loan with the International Monetary Fund. The IMF forecasts that Argentina's economy will shrink 2.3% this year, with central bank reserves in the red after a historic drought trimmed $20 billion from key agricultural exports. Reporting by Jorge Otaola; Writing by Brendan O'Boyle; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Sergio Massa, Patricia Bullrich, Javier Milei, Javier Milei's dollarization, Sergio Massa's, Javier Goni, Oscar Andreani, Jorge Otaola, Brendan O'Boyle, David Alire Garcia, Leslie Adler Organizations: por la Patria, el Cambio, La Libertad Avanza, Reuters, Ledesma, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Thomson Locations: BUENOS AIRES