Polls & Research

Calderón Close to 40%, Rivals Fall in Mexico

(Angus Reid Global Scan) - More adults in Mexico are voicing support for Felipe Calderón of the governing National Action Party (PAN), according to a poll by El Universal. 39 per cent of respondents would support the former energy minister in this year's presidential ballot.

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 21 per cent. Patricia Mercado of the Social-Democratic and Peasant Alternative Party (PASC) Roberto Campa of the New Alliance Party (PNA) are also contending.

Support for Calderón increased by five points since April, while backing for López Obrador and Madrazo fell by three points and four points respectively. López Obrador did not take part in the Apr. 25 presidential debate. The PRD nominee will attend a second and final meeting of candidates on Jun. 6.

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.

Yesterday, López Obrador called the survey "tricky" and "malicious," adding, "This is part of a strategy, I can say no more, people do not believe in tricky polls, it's that simple."

Also yesterday, Calderón warned about the possibility of electoral irregularities in states where the PRI is in charge of the state government, declaring, "Some PRI governors, in an act of desperation, might attempt to compensate their party's abrupt fall through mechanisms that are not very democratic."

The Mexican presidential election is scheduled for Jul. 2.

Polling Data

What candidate would you vote for in the 2006 presidential election?
(Decided Voters)