[[Khaled Ali]] announced his campaign on 27 February 2012 and applied for electionselection on 8 April 2012 as an independent, with the support of 32 elected officials in both chambers of parliament. At 40 years old, he was the youngest candidate to enter the race. Ali is a prominent Egyptian lawyer and activist, known for his work advocating reform of corruption in the government and private sector and his promotion of social justice and labor rights. ''[[Al-Ahram Weekly]]'' called him a "legendary anti-corruption crusader",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1071/ec1.htm |title=Al-Ahram Weekly | Economy | 'Topple their debts' |publisher=Weekly.ahram.org.eg |date=9 November 2011 |access-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106215702/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1071/ec1.htm |archive-date=6 January 2012 }}</ref> and [[CounterPunch]] described him as "Egypt’s best-known counselor and defender of independent unions and worker protests."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.counterpunch.org/2011/02/21/the-unfinished-revolution/ |title=The Unfinished Revolution " Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names |publisher=Counterpunch |date=21 February 2011 |access-date=3 March 2012}}</ref> In 2011 he won the "Egyptian Corruption Fighter" award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bikyamasr.com/59529/labor-lawyer-activist-becomes-egypts-youngest-candidate/ |title=Labor lawyer, activist becomes Egypt's youngest candidate |publisher=Bikya Masr |access-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502083840/http://bikyamasr.com/59529/labor-lawyer-activist-becomes-egypts-youngest-candidate/ |archive-date=2 May 2012 }}</ref>
Many of Ali's supporters seesaw him as filling the void left by Mohamed ElBaradei's withdrawal.<ref name="al-akhbar1">{{cite web |url=http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/meet-khaled-ali-president-against-odds |title=Meet Khaled Ali: President Against Odds |publisher=Al Akhbar English |access-date=3 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303114542/http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/meet-khaled-ali-president-against-odds |archive-date=3 March 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ali iswas not well known to the majority of Egyptians, and even those who are familiar with him have tended to be surprised by his decision to run. His profile doesn't compare to the other "star" candidates in the race, wrote ''[[Al Akhbar (Lebanon)|Al-Akhbar English]]''.<ref name="al-akhbar1"/> Ali's lack of experience as a politician iswas a concern., and Manymany, even in the revolutionary movement, remainremained skeptical about his candidacy.<ref name="al-akhbar1"/> Ali's candidacy has not been seen to have a high likelihood of success. Critics argued that hishe chancewas ofunlikely winning wasto lowwin, and expressed concern that he could split the vote in a way that would sway the election towards representatives of the prior regime.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/egypt/youngest-presidential-hopeful-promises-to-achieve-social-justice.html |title=Youngest presidential hopeful promises to achieve social justice |publisher=Thedailynewsegypt.com |access-date=3 March 2012}}</ref>
[[Socialist Popular Alliance Party]] and Egyptian Socialists members told Egypt Independent that they are seriously considering backing Ali's candidacy. "Up until now, the situation is unclear. Khaled may be our choice. Some are proposing a potential partnership between Khaled Ali and Abouel Fotouh [where Ali can run as his deputy]," said Marwa Farouk, a member of the [[Socialist Popular Alliance Party|Popular Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.egypt.com/english/permalink/86489.html |title=Egypt.com News – Egypt News – Lefts presidential candidate yet to emerge |publisher=News.egypt.com |date=21 February 2012 |access-date=3 March 2012}}</ref>
