CALDERON SCORES BIG IN FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MEXICO 002240 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR MX SUBJECT: CALDERON SCORES BIG IN FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ¶1. (SBU) Summary: As measured both by the polls and the pundits, National Action Party (PAN) presidential candidate Felipe Calderon emerged the big winner in yesterday's presidential debate, offering a national audience a polished, well-organized and engaging summary of his platform. His principal opponent in the debate, Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate Roberto Madrazo, while aiming for the political center, appeared to alienate many voters with his aggressive attacks and his uneasy manner. Patricia Mercado of the Alternative Social Democratic and Peasant Alliance (Alternativa) proved the surprise of the evening, offering a polished, composed and engaging performance that will surely strengthen her party's chances of reaching the 2% threshold necessary to be officially registered as a party. The other minor party candidate, Roberto Campa of the Nueva Alianza, assumed the role of the spoiler, relentlessly attacking Madrazo's integrity, decency, and even his attitude towards women. The four candidates referred infrequently to Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO),the candidate of the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD),who in a controversial decision opted not to participate and whose absence was symbolized by an empty lectern. While post-debate polls suggest that AMLO's refusal to participate could cost him some support, it remains to be seen whether this damage proves long-term. Although with two over months left in the campaign, we do not expect last night's debate to be decisive, it likely provided Calderon with renewed momentum, at the expense of Madrazo and AMLO. End summary. Polls and Pundits Give Victory to Calderon -------------- ¶2. (U) Post-debate polls published in the April 26 edition of Reforma showed that 43% of viewers considered Calderon the winner of the debate, as opposed to 18% for Madrazo, 14% for Mercado, and 7% for Campa. A panel of approximately 300 pundits and opinion makers in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara favored Calderon even more strongly than the viewing audience: 71% considered Calderon the winner, as opposed to 11% for Madrazo, 9% for Mercado, and 6% for Campa. The same group asserted that they viewed Calderon and Mercado more favorably as a result of the debate, while viewing Madrazo and AMLO less favorably. Calderon: "Candidate of Ideas, President of Solutions" -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Most analysts concur that Calderon won the debate both on substance and on style. He appeared confident, relaxed and in good humor, and spoke more slowly and evenly than in some early campaign appearances. Characterizing himself as a "candidate of ideas," he tended to offer more detailed policy prescriptions than the other candidates, enumerating his points in a logical, easy-to-follow manner. With respect to fiscal policy, he said he favored (i) reducing income tax rates and possibly adopting a flat tax, (ii) simplifying tax filing procedures, (iii) increasing the transparency surrounding the use of government funds, (iv) targeting government funds to social programs with a real impact on quality of life, such as health insurance for children, and (v) increasing economic stability, in part by protecting property rights. Calderon described his labor policy with one word: "jobs." He said he would seek to create jobs by increasing Mexico's competitiveness, including by lowering energy costs and interest rates. He promised to provide financial incentives for companies to hire young workers, to create day care centers for working mothers, and to provide financing for small and medium size enterprises (SME). Calderon said he supported allowing strategic alliances with private capital in the energy sector, particularly power generation and deep-water oil exploration, and advocated competition in the energy sector as a means of lowering energy costs. Madrazo Stakes Out the Political Center -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Throughout the encounter, Madrazo laid claim to the political center, characterizing the right as "intolerant" and the left as "conflictive." He framed his case by arguing that during the past five and one-half years of PAN government, conditions in Mexico had "reversed," with economic indicators dropping and indicators of insecurity rising. With respect to fiscal policy, he proposed adopting a simplified tax system, eliminating tax loopholes, and improving tax collection. He promised to create nine million jobs during his term, in part by providing stimuli to SME, and creating incentives for businesses to hire young workers. Alluding to the Fox Administration's failed attempt to expel striking workers from a steel plant in Michoacan last week, he said that unlike a PAN administration, his would respect MEXICO 00002240 002 OF 003 the autonomy of unions. Turning to energy issues, Madrazo promised not to privatize Pemex. He called for Mexico's energy resources to be managed according to the principle of "modern nationalism," although he did not specify whether this would permit private investment. He strongly criticized Calderon's performance as Fox's Energy Secretary. ¶5. (SBU) With the possible exception of Roberto Campa, Madrazo was by far the most aggressive of the candidates in attacking his opponents. He tended to refer to them by their last names, while they tended to refer to each other by first names. In a pointed double entendre alluding to Calderon's height, Madrazo charged that Calderon "lacked the stature" to be President. While his delivery was smooth, he rarely smiled and a number of commentators said he seemed ill at ease and lacked Calderon's warmth and engaging manner. A PRI insider conceded to Poloff that Madrazo's "nerves had gotten to him" and that he ended up reading many of his remarks from prepared statements. He said that despite the PRI's public claims of victory in the debate, Madrazo's inner circle was "very worried," and predicted that as Madrazo's campaign continued to lag, we would see further defections. Mercado Emerges with Stature Enhanced -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Alternativa candidate Patricia Mercado used the rare opportunity to appear before a national audience to her best advantage. Mercado managed to stay above the fray throughout the evening, escaping criticism from her opponents and offering her policy prescriptions in a polished, measured, and self-assured manner. She emphasized that she considered herself a leftist in the mold of Spain's Felipe Gonzalez and Chile's Michelle Bachelet. She repeatedly emphasized her concern for the rights of women, the handicapped and other marginalized groups. Surprisingly in this conservative and religious country, she argued for legalizing gay marriage, asserting that the issue was not one of morality, but rather one of rights. Most pundits agreed that she emerged from the event with her stature enhanced; one pundit described her performance as "serene," and others observed that she provided a fresh presence in Mexican politics. Campa Excels as a Spoiler, Not as a Candidate -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Through much of the debate, Nueva Alianza candidate Roberto Campa focused on attacking Madrazo, calling into question his personal integrity and charging that he was hostile to women. In perhaps the most charged moment of the debate, Campa announced that he recently had received in the mail an anonymous package containing documents proving that Madrazo had not paid income taxes in 2003-05. He observed tartly that Madrazo must have had income, as he had been widely reported to have purchased luxury homes in Mexico City and Miami during that period. Madrazo did not respond directly to Campa's allegations, preferring to dismiss him as a "puppet," an allusion to teachers' union leader Elba Esther Gordillo's perceived influence over the Campa campaign. Although Campa achieved his goal of scoring points against Madrazo, he was less effective in promoting his own candidacy; at times, he gesticulated wildly and spoke in near shouts. AMLO Loses in Absentia -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Although AMLO opted not to participate in last night's debate, he inevitably remained part of the dynamic, with an empty lectern on the stage symbolizing his refusal to participate. Although his rivals referred to him only infrequently during the debate -- one political analyst had speculated to Poloff that a Mexican audience would react poorly to those who criticized him in absentia -- the audience could not fail to take note of his absence. Indeed, according to Reforma, 55% of viewers thought AMLO would lose votes because of his refusal to participate. Nevertheless, AMLO has said he will participate in the second and final debate, scheduled for June 6, which could provide an opportunity to undo any damage incurred last night. Comment: No Knock Outs, But A Clear Calderon Victory -------------- -------------- ¶9. (SBU) In our view, and that of most pundits, Calderon emerged the clear winner in the debate, even if his rivals did not commit any fatal errors. His victory comes just when his campaign was beginning to show renewed signs of life, with recent polls showing him having narrowed, or even closed, the gap with AMLO. His victory in the debate -- and MEXICO 00002240 003 OF 003 in the post-debate spin -- should give his campaign a fresh boost of momentum, and such boosts do not come often in what has been an uneventful campaign to date. Moreover, Madrazo's loss could cement his status as an improbable third place contender, and encourage swing voters who strongly oppose AMLO to throw their allegiance to Calderon as the more likely alternative. Of course, the wild card in this analysis is AMLO himself. While we would not be surprised to see him slip into second place in post-debate polls, he has promised to participate in the June 6 debate and by then, his failure to appear last night may well be forgotten. Visit Mexico City's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/mexicocity GARZA