Peña Nieto is "linked to organized crime," claims Josefina in toughest words to date

"Mexico does not deserve this man as president"

With Mexico's presidential race about to enter the home stretch, and the last two polls showing her far back in third place (López Obrador surges to 29% in latest poll: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/06/lopez-obrador-surges-to-29-in-latest.html), PAN candidate Josefina Vázquez Mota unloaded with everything she had today on front runner Enrique Peña Nieto.

Speaking at a campaign rally in Guadalajara, Vázquez Mota told a crowd of supporters that her PRI opponent represents "complicity with organized crime. And Mexican families don't deserve that," she added.

The PAN hopeful, once comfortably in second place and thought to present the only real challenge to Peña Nieto, has been eclipsed in recent weeks by leftist Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Some political experts believe that the race is now solely a PRI-PRD contest.

Today Vázquez Mota made reference to PRI party functionaries whom U.S. federal prosecutors are investigating for money laundering and drug cartel connections. One of them serves as an adviser to Peña Nieto's campaign.

"All Mexicans share indignation over this, and we demand an explanation. Mexico doesn't deserve this man to be its next president. Citizens are not going to accept as president someone who is linked to and has colluded with organized crime," said Vázquez Mota.

Enrique Peña Nieto -- and the Institutional Revolutionary Party -- have long had to defend claims of shadowy narco crime connections. This story and its links provide background: Is alleged PRI-narco connection fair game in Mexico's presidential election?: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/02/is-alleged-pri-narco-connection-fair.html.

All four presidential candidates will hold their final official debate in Guadalajara Sunday evening. But the national student protest movement known as YoSoy 132 will host its own debate on June 19, and three of the candidates have pledged to attend. Peña Nieto has declined, saying the organization's members are biased against him (Peña Nieto rejects YoSoy debate demand: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/06/pena-nieto-rejects-yosoy-debate-demand.html).

Back to the "good old days" in Mexico: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/back-to-good-old-days-in-mexico.html.
No deals with narcos, says Josefina: http://mexicogulfreporter-supplement.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-deals-with-criminals-says-pan.html.
PRI is "lawless," says 2010 Nobel Prize Laureate in Literature: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/writer-excoriates-mexicos-pri-party.html.
Mexican Nobel Prize winner endorses Vázquez Mota: "struggle must continue": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/mexican-nobel-prize-winner-endorses.html.
PRI linked to possible election intimidation in Michoacán state: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/11/mexicos-attorney-general-will.html.

Peña Nieto strikes back on PAN "narco alliance" claims - and hits the bullseye: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/05/pena-nieto-strikes-back-on-pan-narco.html.