The Christian Democrats supported further agrarian reform, which had begun under the Alessandri administration and exerting greater state control over the dominant copper industry.

FRAP called for more drastic action, advocating the nationalization of copper, nitrate and iron mining, and eventually petroleum companies as well.

For agricultural reform, Salvador Allende advocated further transformation, creating a new system based upon a mix of state, collective, and private farms, while urging that no more than 35% of the arable land would be collectivized.

But Frei took a more moderate tone, emphasizing a "Revolution in Liberty," which would transform Chilean society through democratic rather than totalitarian means, implying that Allende's election would lead to a dictatorship.

It was also believed by CIA Director John McCone that the Cuban government had given Allende up to $1 million, but there are no records proving this amount was paid by Cuba.