  The lowest order hadronic contribution to the $g-2$ factor of the muon is
analyzed in the framework of the operator product expansion at short distances,
and a QCD finite energy sum rule designed to quench the role of the $e^+ e^-$
data. This procedure reduces the discrepancy between experiment and theory,
$\Delta a_\mu \equiv a^{EXP}_\mu - a^{SM}_\mu$, from $\Delta a_\mu = 28.7 (8.0)
\times 10^{-10}$ to $\Delta a_\mu = 19.2 (8.0) \times 10^{-10}$, i.e. without
changing the uncertainty.
