If you keep abreast of developments in Mexico and South America, there are many neighboring countries that have gone down the road of socialism.
http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID={694DCFDD-58F8-4616-BCFF-082454F32F26}&language=EN
Latin America Votes for Socialism
Obviously a new era has dawned in the Hemisphere, says Valle-Garay. Cuba’s peaceful transfer of power, the re-election of presidents in Brazil and Venezuela, and the election of new governments in Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador and Nicaragua are evidence that times are changing.
Latin Americans are now consistently sending to the presidency a decidedly socialist slate, all this peacefully and matter-of-factly highlights the York University scholar.
Giving President Bush credit for even thinking about Latin America amounts to absolute nonsense, says the expert. "The US President has absolutely not a single original thought regarding Latin America, or the world or in the United States for that matter", affirms Valle-Garay.
Seems as if the expert doesn't think much of President Bush. ;-)
Nicaragua is a unique deal. Most of the country opposes Ortega, and he got in with a very small plurality of the vote. It's still a conservative country.