Posted on 07/02/2006 10:53:31 AM PDT by La Enchiladita
MEXICO CITY — After a presidential campaign that exposed Mexico's deep class divisions, voters chose Sunday between a free-spending leftist pledging to put the poor first or a conservative pushing private investment and free markets as the keys to prosperity.
The presidential election is the first since Vicente Fox's stunning victory in 2000 ended 71 years of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. The vote will determine whether Mexico becomes the latest Latin American country to move to the left.
...
Polls predict a close race between conservative Felipe Calderon of Fox's party and leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a former Mexico City mayor. The PRI's Roberto Madrazo was running a distant third, ahead of two minor candidates.
Five governors and both houses of Congress also were being elected.
Officials hoped to announce a winner within hours of the 9 p.m. EDT closing of the last poll, based on a quick count. But they cautioned they would wait if the race was too close.
About 71 million of Mexico's 103 million people are eligible to vote.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I watch both.
Dane & BunnySlippers:
Hello BunnySlippers. I think we were fellow protestors at the LA Federal building in November/December 2000. Good to see you again (if that is you). Lot's changed.
The article implies that polls close at 6 p.m. here in Sonora (PST). I was told 8 p.m., or 11 p.m. EST. I will look out my window and see when they actually do close. A quick and accurate count is unlikely tonight in my estimatation. The opinion polls show a close race and the ballots are more cumbersome. There are actually six ballots, three local and three federal. Some states of Mexico have even more, as local, state and federal offices are up. Don't believe the first numbers you hear. Remember 2000. Bunnyslippers does.
Okay, hope you will report back in as the results come in ...
Thanks!!
"Thousands of those who missed out were heading south Sunday to cast votes at ballot centers set up along the border. "
Wonder what 'along the border' means? Please don't tell me they allowed Mexican officials to conduct Mexican elections INSIDE the U.S. so that the illegals didn't have to risk crossing over and not being able to get back?
Since you asked, La Enchiladita, the wire service word is "too close to call." The real time betting sites give Calderon a 75% chance of being declared winner.
I meant that it will never be illegal for Senators to drink on a day when they cast votes in the Senate.
Border towns just south of the border, like Tijuana, Juarez, Mexicali, Matamoros and Nuevo Laredo.
Checking Spanish-language television now. Despite my user name, I'm 100% gringa and am struggling to comprender the Spanish being spoken. But I believe they are saying it's too close to call.
Current count:
Calderon 38%
Obrador 35.8%
Madrazo 19.4%
Local Fox 11 news, reporting long waits for Mexican nationals who travelled to vote, with additional travel time.
Local news is covering it? OMG
From a very soft "human interest" angle. Har.
LOL
Come on, Calderon!
Half of precincts reporting so far.
Cheering here for Calderon too.
Makes me noivus the longer some of these precincts take to report tallies.
According to another article the decision will be held up til Wednesday! Also, some precincts ran out of ballots 4 hours after opening!
And some polling places opened an hour or more late!
Ay, ay, ay!
I wish I knew where to find the latest percentages.
I think there may be stuff here in scrolling news. Trying to gear up my sagging Spanish:
http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/noticias.html
Federal Election Committee results at these sites:
http://www.ife.org.mx/prep2006/
Percentages here:
http://www.reforma.com/
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