Polls & Research

Calderón Takes First Place in Mexico

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - Felipe Calderón of the governing National Action Party (PAN) is now the top presidential contender in Mexico, according to a poll by Reforma. 38 per cent of respondents would vote for the former energy secretary in this year's election.

Former Mexico City mayor Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) is second with 35 per cent, followed by former Tabasco governor Roberto Madrazo of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) with 23 per cent, Patricia Mercado of the Social-Democratic and Peasant Alternative Party (PASC) with 2.6 per cent, and Roberto Campa of the New Alliance Party (PNA) with 0.6 per cent.

Support for Calderón among likely voters increased by seven points since March, while backing for López Obrador and Madrazo fell by six points and two points respectively.

The PAN's Vicente Fox ended 71 years of uninterrupted rule by the PRI in the 2000 election, winning a six-year term with 42.5 per cent of the vote.

López Obrador did not take part in last night's presidential debate. The PRD nominee will attend a second and final meeting of candidates on Jun. 6. PRD spokesman Gerardo Fernández Noroña explained the rationale, saying, "The idea (of the other parties) was to drown out our campaign with debates, but we stuck to our position."

In the race for the Chamber of Deputies, the PAN is first with 40 per cent, followed by the leftist Alliance for the Common Good with 29 per cent, and the Alliance for Mexico—featuring the PRI and the Green Environmentalist Party (PVEM)—with 27 per cent.

The Mexican presidential and legislative election is scheduled for Jul. 2.

Polling Data

If the presidential election took place today, who would you vote for?
(Likely Voters)

If the election to the federal Chamber of Deputies took place today, what party would you vote for?