 He learned Quichua in his youth during a year he spent volunteering in a remote highland town.In the October 2006 general election, Correa obtained second place (23%) behind banana tycoon Álvaro Noboa (27%).The situation led to a run-off election, in which Correa portrayed Noboa as an exploitative oligarch and Noboa portrayed Correa as a dangerous leftist with strong links to Venezuela.