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Tuesday, June 20, 2006

 

Zocalo Bob: Mexican Election Guaranteed Fraud Free

Luis Carlos Ugalde today assured the world that there's no chance whatsoever of any fraud in the July 2nd Presidential election in Mexico.

According to Ugalde, AKA Zocalo Bob, "The Mexican system is inviolable, it's invulnerable, it's bullet-proof in all aspects." He added, "The chance of any irregularity is equal to zero," in case you were left with a shred of uncertainty.

Clearly Ugalde is aiming to undercut any future claims of vote fraud, such at those Lopez Obrador seems to be prepared to bring if he loses. A pre-emptive strike by the party in power, perhaps.

But like his compatriot in Baghdad during the US invasion, Zocalo Bob seems to have overstepped slightly in his claims, and his absolute certainty about the purity of an event that has yet to pass seems a bit like he doth protest too much.

Time will tell, and it's looking more and more like we'll see a Florida 2000 scenario in Mexico this julio.

EJ loves contested elections, so bring on the popcorn!

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Monday, June 19, 2006

 

Down 'n' Dirty in Mexico

This year's Presidential election in Mexico has a new twist- a more or less neutral media.

In previous elections, the Mexican media would support the ruling PRI party, since there was a clear structure of power and a mutual self-interest. But since the PRI has been driven from power (indeed, PRI is polling 3rd in this election), the media has taken a step back towards impartiality.

The flip side of this power shift is that Mexican political ads have taken on a gritter, more mudslinging tone. Candidates have been accusing each other of abuse of power and nepotism, of threatening the upper class with the Hugo Chavez clone boogeyman, and of promising things they won't deliver (horrors!).

In short, democracy has come to Mexico, and in a big way! No doubt the advice of men such as Dick Morris goes a long way to helping the candidates cope with this change.

Next up, we'll go all the way to Florida 2000, with the groundwork for challenges based on election fraud already being laid.

Ah, fun!

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Saturday, June 17, 2006

 

"Si no votas, callate"- Rock The Vote, Mexican Style

The Mexican equivalent of MTV's Rock the Vote campaign is encouraging young people to "Si no votas, callate"- Vote or shut up.

Tu Rock es Vota ("Your rock is to vote") has an ad campaign featuring numerous Mexican musical stars exhorting the youth of Mexico to vote. In the run up to the July 2nd elections, this campaign is attempting to mobilize the 30 million Mexicans between 18 and 35 who could well be a major factor in the outcome of the election.

The campaign is slick and thorough, complete with internet banners for your website and the now-requisite myspace page. The myspace page brilliantly targets the laid-back friendly vibe of the site with a blooper reel of the campaign video. Giving us a peek at the humanity of the stars never hurts.

The Latino lifestyle blog VivirLatino raises an interesting question- why are so many American companies sponsoring this campaign? Does the youth candidate (or more accurately, whoever the companies perceive to be the youth candidate) support more foreign corporate movement into Mexico? And is that a good or bad thing?

With nearly half Mexico's 70 million voters under 35, the youth vote might well decide the election. They have every reason to take advantage and make their voices heard. If not, well...callate.

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Saturday, June 10, 2006

 

Mexican Elections Overshadowed by Copa Mondial

Mexico is set to elect a President on July 2, with just one small problem- The World Cup has 2 quarterfinal matches scheduled the night before.

Mexico begins its progress through the Copa Mondial on Sunday, June 11 vs Iran. The Mexican national team is well-ranked, and could well find itself in the quarterfinal matches the night before the Presidential election. What would it mean if they won? How much focus would the nation bring to mere elections? What if they lost? Would the populace overcome their despair and go vote? For who?

The leading candidates are all trying to cope with the Copa. Calderon uses national team members in his campaign ads, Lopez Obrador has cards with Cup schedules and his face printed on them, Madrazo is going as far to mix rallies and game-watching sessions. Another big issue is that voters may well simply stop paying attention to the campaigns in order to focus on Mexico's futbol successes.

More than one candidate may be harboring a secret wish that Mexico has an unlikely 3-and-out turn at the World Cup this year. Then the masses could turn their attention back where the politicians no doubt feel it rightfully belongs- on them.

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