Don't worry about world elections either. (Don't even worry about the next U.S. election since President Bush and his team doesn't have a third chance.) Now back to the question of Mexico.

First of all, there are more than two candidates in the running: Felipe Calderon Hinojosa, the Free Trader, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Subsidizer, and Roberto Madrazo Pintado, the Revolutionary. (Sorry for the long names, but everybody deserves his whole name when first mentioned in print.) It is true that the latter, according to the available polls, is coping with a 10% deficit compared to the other two. Of course, anything related to a revolution (as the name of his party suggests) is not too popular anymore. But the result of this election is still only a little more predictable than a soccer game.

I presume the "average" American (Hungarian, etc.) reader believes the Mexican elections are none of his business. That is a healthy point of view. Unfortunately enough, U.S. governmental circles think they should pay attention since Mexico is their closest neighbor in Latin-America. I am not sure whether a left-wing President or a keen partisan of the free trade is considered as a better partner by the U.S. government. But whoever grabs the steering wheel in Mexico will absolutely need all the possible support of the Big (Brother) Neighbor. And he will get it.

The U.S. needs Mexican oil, its business relations, and a peaceful and calm country at its behind. Looking at the ruling Presidents in the world one by one, the U.S. administration has been able to successfully co-operate with worse politicians with much worse reputations than any of the three Mexican candidates. The real question is this: How would the Mexican drug barons and other real power holders interact with their new President and government? Let's try to figure this out next. For now, vamos a la playa.