TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — There’s a Persian saying used to describe an under-the-radar political effort: “Driving at night with the lights off.” Allies of embattled President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may be doing just that as they campaign in Iran’s hinterlands in hopes of scoring a comeback in next month’s parliamentary elections.

The voting March 2 should — momentarily, at least — shift attention from Iran’s international standoffs over its nuclear program back to the country’s internal power plays: The ruling system striking back against perceived runaway ambitions by Ahmadinejad and his inner circle.