MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mexico's presidential candidates neck to neck

The latest presidential public opinion poll in the run-up to Mexico's July 2 elections shows the populist and conservative candidates in a virtual tie, with the third contender not far behind.

Former mayor of Mexico City Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who for many months led all surveys by a comfortable margin before slipping earlier this year, has recovered a slight advantage, with 33.6% vote intention according to the survey commissioned to Maria de las Heras public opinion agency. The poll was published Monday by the Milenio newspaper.

Right behind Lopez Obrador is Felipe Calderon, candidate of the incumbent, centre-right National Action Party, PAN with a 33.1% support which means the difference is less than the survey's margin of error.

But not distant with 30% is Roberto Madrazo, candidate of the PRI, the party that ruled Mexico uninterruptedly for 71 years before Vicente Fox, standard-bearer of the PAN, won the presidency in 2000.

President Fox is barred by the constitution from seeking another six-year term. Lopez Obrador, candidate of a coalition led by his Party of the Democratic Revolution, rose about a half-point since a similar poll a month ago, while Calderon dropped nearly three points. Madrazo rose some two points.

Regarding congressional races, the latest survey gives an edge to the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), followed by the PAN and the PRD.

The survey interviewed 1.000 people May 21/24 with a 3.2% margin of error.