Will America's Neighbor Lurch to the Left

[KingFlorez]

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/spiegel/0,1518,424193,00.html
Will America's Neighbor Lurch to the Left

By Jens Glüsing

Mexico's upcoming presidential elections could mark yet another step in the region's shift to the left, as old school populist candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador vies for the country's highest office. For Mexico's powerful neighbor to the north, the prospect of having a left-leaning, nationalist caudillo running the country poses a nightmare scenario.

Leftist candidate López Obrador: "My opponents are waging a smear campaign against me."
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REUTERS
Leftist candidate López Obrador: "My opponents are waging a smear campaign against me."
Bolts of lighting twitch in the skies over Orizaba, a city in the shadow of the eponymous volcano, a three-hour drive from Mexico City. When the man in the yellow rain slicker takes to the stage, what has been a steady rain suddenly turns into a deluge. His audience, after spending hours waiting on balconies and rooftops, in trees and on the ground, is soaked to the skin.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known by many in Mexico by the acronym formed by the initials of his name, AMLO, isn't troubled by the inclement weather. He allows his supporters to push him through the steaming mass of people, grabbing hands, kissing and hugging his adoring fans. Cheering onlookers shower Obrador with confetti, lovingly stroke the metal of his car and tug at his raincoat.

Women shove petitions into his pockets, petitions asking for work, for help curing their sons' drug habits or healing their sick mothers. They pray for him in the cathedral, murmuring his name as they kneel in their pews. Obrador, who hopes to be elected Mexico's next president this coming Sunday, is their only hope.


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[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I hope he wins. Good luck to him

[Radical Activist]

2. Awesome.

At least there's one unintended good consequence of Bush's presidency.

[paparush]

3. Dude..I'm moving to South America. Adios Amigos! : -)

[Swamp Rat]

4. Espero que si

:)

[nosmokes]

5. it comes down to what the PRIstas do

which is ironic, that they should be given power again after finally being tossed out by fox last elecyion, even if if it is only the power to decide. but it definitely shows thatthat the PRI is still a force to be reckoned with in mexicsn ppolitics. my gut tells me that obrador will not be their choice, but my heart hopes the people will stand up for themselves and embrace the man and his populist values.