Conservative Felipe Calderon, making his final push for the Mexican presidency a week before elections, warned that his chief rival's economic policies will bring a repeat of the financial debacles that plagued the country in the past.
In his last Mexico City event before the July 2 vote, Calderon told 100,000 raucous supporters in the cavernous Estadio Azteca soccer venue on Sunday that, despite pre-election polls showing the race too close to call, he expected to win by 1.5 million votes.
He stressed a central campaign theme that his chief rival, leftist former Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, would push the country into a financial crisis of the kind that brought currency devaluations and widespread unemployment in the 1980s and 1990s.
"Our adversaries represent an alternative of hate and slander," said Calderon, who is running with Mexican President Vicente Fox's National Action Party. "They want to cheat Mexicans with lies that they will magically increase their wages."
Polls show Lopez Obrador about even with Calderon among Mexico's electorate. In third place is Roberto Madrazo, whose Institutional Revolutionary Party controlled Mexico's presidency from 1929 until a stunning loss to Fox six years ago. Fox is barred by the constitution from running again.
Lopez Obrador, who was in Hidalgo and Guerrero states on Sunday, will wrap up his campaign at a rally in Mexico City's grand central square, the Zocalo, tomorrow, the last day campaigning is permitted before the vote.
Calderon decided to avoid the capital tomorrow in part because it is the base of support for Lopez Obrador, who was a popular mayor before resigning in July to seek the presidency. He has responded to Calderon's attacks by branding the ruling-party candidate a career politician and mouthpiece for the rich.
With his wife and three small children in tow, Calderon spoke on a stage built to look like an X marking a ballot. He promised to protect the environment, create jobs to reduce illegal immigration to the US and provide universal health care while improving education.
Calderon also gave a nod to his party's Roman Catholic base, saying: "I am ready for the responsibility that's coming. I'm prepared professionally and spiritually for the task."
The rally had a carnival atmosphere with men on stilts waving flags bearing the candidate's name, while supporters, many wearing white Calderon T-shirts, danced to drum beats and waved balloons and placards in the surrounding stands.
Outside the stadium, women in low-cut T-shirts gyrated to music blaring from speakers and some supporters donned Calderon masks.
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