Minor presidential candidates in Mexico have little chance for victory, but high hopes to influence outcome

Election posters line the streets in Mexico City

June 20, 2000
Web posted at: 11:04 p.m. EDT (0304 GMT)

In this story: Staking out a pivotal position Polls show 20 percent undecided RELATED STORIES, SITES

From Harris Whitbeck, CNN Mexico City Bureau Chief

MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- Though public opinion polls show the July 2 Mexican presidential race neck-and-neck between ruling-party presidential contender Francisco Labastida and opposition candidate Vicente Fox, there are other candidates and other parties, all intent on playing a role in Mexico's political life.

Labastida is the candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI. Fox is the standard-bearer for the National Action Party, or PAN.

The minor-party candidates include Cuauhtemoc Cardenas of the Democratic Revolutionary Party, or PRD; Manuel Camacho Solis of the Party of the Democratic Center; Porfirio Munoz Ledo of the Authentic Party of the Mexican Revolution; and Gilberto Rincon Gallardo of the Party of Social Democracy.

Although one of the minor parties, the Authentic Revolutionary Party, has already allied itself with the main opposition force, the minor-party candidates hope to claim a pivotal position.

"By showing that independence, and by having the ideas of the basic institutional reforms that Mexico needs, we have placed ourselves in the center of politics," Solis said.

Though the minor candidates know they won't win the presidency, they have the potential to wield political power in the extremely tight race by throwing their support behind one or another of the major candidates.

Candidates such as Rincon Gallardo say their participation is important because it gives voters more of a chance to express their points of view.

"The voter should have the right to chose between more than two options," he said.

Others hope they will garner enough support to at least be heard when the time comes to form the new government.

Less than two weeks before election day, opinion polls show that about 20 percent of the Mexican electorate is undecided, so the minor candidates -- including Cardenas and Ledo, might hold the key to its outcome.

Minority voters courted in tight Mexican presidential campaign
June 20, 2000
Media coverage becomes issue in Mexican election
May 10, 2000
Candidates spar in Mexican presidential debate
April 25, 2000
Ruling party names Labastida winner in Mexican primary
November 8, 1999
Change now the only constant in Mexico's presidential elections
August 2, 1999

Federal Electoral Institute
PRI (in Spanish)
PAN -- National Action Party (in Spanish)
Mexican history of politics
Internet resources on Mexican politics
CIA Factbook 1999: Mexico
InterWeb Mexico

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