It's very, very difficult for outsiders to judge the extent and the impact of the irregularities in the Iranian election, not to mention the true motivations of the Iranian electorate, but it's undeniable that Ahmadinejad is highly popular with many segments of Iranian society, and it's altogether plausible that he did in fact win the election.
At least one polling organization is not at all surprised that he did:
Iranians view their support for a more democratic system, with normal relations with the United States, as consonant with their support for Ahmadinejad. They do not want him to continue his hard-line policies. Rather, Iranians apparently see Ahmadinejad as their toughest negotiator, the person best positioned to bring home a favorable deal -- rather like a Persian Nixon going to China.
More insights - why did many reform-minded Iranians actually vote for Ahmadinejad?
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- More insights - why did many reform-minded Iranians actually vote for Ahmadinejad?
