All about Mexico's presidential candidates

Selected MGRR articles on Mexico's 2012 candidates, and what the polls have said



Mexico's election is only 11 days away (Sunday, July 1). Below are selected articles about the candidates published by the Mexico Gulf Region Reporter since late 2011. Within most articles are multiple links to others. At the bottom is a list of posts dealing with the almost daily presidential preference polls which have been conducted here. Less than two weeks from today we´ll know how accurate they were.

For much of what you need to know about the impending election in the convenience of just one article, MGRR's base story of March 30 has been read by hundreds of readers, and has been relied upon or referred to by news blogs, services and publications in the United States and Mexico. Here it is: Mexico's presidential campaign begins.

A note about the "other guy"

Gabriel Quadri de la Torre is the still relatively unknown nominee of Partido Nueva Alliance, or the New Alliance Party (PNA). Quadri is a 57 year old politician who was trained as a civil engineer in Mexico, and later went on to earn a master's degree and Ph.D. in economics at the University of Texas. He's an outspoken environmentalist in a country where the topic probably should be addressed by candidates far more than it is. Despite the fact that he is a well educated man whose academic credentials far outstrip those of his three opponents, the PNA nominee barely shows up as a blip on the political radar screen. Polls show only token support for his candidacy, usually less than five percent. Many Mexican voters are unable to name him in presidential preference surveys.

I didn't devote a single article just to Quadri, nor did I make reference to him many times. But that's not for lack of esteem. Despite his "professorial" style and mannerisms, and a decidedly non-politician appearance, I think voters here would be well served by taking a serious look at the PNA candidate. But regrettably that's not going to happen this year. I suspect Quadri may have been more focused on the 2018 race than on 2012's, anyway.

Also: All about Mexico's election, 2012.

About PRI and Enrique Peña Nieto
Peña Nieto makes whistle stop in Progreso: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/04/pena-nieto-makes-whistle-stop-in.html.
Peña Nieto says Mexican army will retain pivotal role in drug war if he's elected: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/04/after-months-of-wavering-pena-nieto.html.
PRI and Peña Nieto may be unstoppable: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/pri-and-pena-nieto-may-be-unstoppable.html.
Is alleged PRI-narco connection fair game in 2012 presidential election?: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/is-alleged-pri-narco-connection-fair.html.
PRI enraged over Felipe Calderón's comments to New York Times: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.mx/2011/11/pri-enraged-over-felipe-calderons.html
The many romances of Enrique Peña Nieto: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/el-gran-amante-many-romances-of-enrique.html.
Peña Nieto admits: "I was unfaithful" - and bares all during newspaper interview: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/pena-nieto-admits-i-was-unfaithful-and.html.

About PAN and Josefina Vázquez Mota
Josefina ends 2012 campaign in Mérida
NY Times got Josefina Vázquez Mota's drug war strategy wrong: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/06/ny-times-got-josefinas-vazquez-motas.html#more.
Students heckle Josefina over ABC daycare fire: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/06/students-heckle-josefina-over-daycare.html.
Josefina Mota promises "full force of the law" against crooked politicians: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/josefina-mota-promises-full-force-of.html.
Josefina Vázquez Mota registers for prez and tells Mexico, "I'm clean": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/josefina-vazquez-mota-registers-for.html.
Mexican Nobel Prize winner endorses Vázquez Mota: "struggle must continue": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/mexican-nobel-prize-winner-endorses.html.

About PRD and Andrés Manuel López Obrador
The Old Guard's worst nightmare: Andrés Manuel López Obrador: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/06/old-guards-worst-nightmare-andres.html.
López Obrador cleans up in UNAM mock election, with 83% of the vote: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/lopez-obrador-cleans-up-in-unam-mock.html.
López Obrador clarifies stance on military force withdrawal from drug war: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/lopez-obrador-clarifies-stance-on.html.
Economic inequality the primary cause of Mexico's insecurity, says Obrador: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/04/economic-inequality-primary-cause-of.html.
López Obrado repeats promise to pull Mexican military forces from drug war: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/lopez-obrado-repeats-promise-to-pull.html.
Fanciful and shifting economic promises, a staple in Mexican campaign: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/04/fanciful-and-shifting-economic-promises.html.
López Obrador begins campaign with bold promise: 7 million new jobs: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/lopez-obrador-begins-campaign-with-bold.html.
López Obrador promises PRD victory in 2012 - and a big pay cut for politicians: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/lopez-obrador-promises-prd-victory-in.html.
PRD candidate Andrés López Obrador tells supporters, he's no Robin Hood: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/prd-candidate-andres-lopez-obrador.html.
Abortion opponents challenge PRD candidate López Obrador at papal Mass: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/abortion-opponents-challenge-prd.html.
Mexican Cardinal Urges U.S. to “Stop Leftist Candidates” - including AMLO: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.mx/2011/11/mexican-archbishop-to-us-stop-leftist.html.

The polls
Mexico's 2012 presidential campaign closes
López Obrador surges to 29% in latest poll: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/06/lopez-obrador-surges-to-29-in-latest.html.
Enrique Peña Nieto hits campaign low: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/enrique-pena-nieto-falling-dollar.html#more.
Mexican presidential race tightens (May 30): http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/mexican-presidential-race-tightens.html.
López Obrador hits personal best in polls (May 25): http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/lopez-obrador-hits-personal-best-in.html.
López Obrador again in 2nd place in post-debate survey: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/lopez-obrador-again-in-2nd-place-in.html.
Peña Nieto, cayendo en las encuestas, se queja de "una guerra suicia": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/04/pena-nieto-cayendo-en-las-encuestas-se.html.
López Obrador tops Josefina in recent poll; Peña Nieto rides the down elevator: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/04/lopez-obrador-tops-josefina-in-latest.html.
Enrique Peña Nieto roars on Day 1 in GEA-ISA presidential preference poll: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/pena-nieto-roars-on-day-1-of-campaign.html.
GEA-ISA March 20 presidential preference poll: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/latest-gea-isa-presidential-poll-pena.html.
Vázquez Mota continues polling strong in advance of Feb. 5 PAN primary: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/01/josefina-mota-continues-polling-strong.html.