[rmnunez]

The leading candidate from the conservative PAN, Calderon (with 38.52% of the vote), promises development, job growth, foreign investment, close comercial and institutional ties with the US and general neoliberalism and is ahead by less than 3% with about 28% of the ballots tallied. The leftist runner-up, Lopez Obrador (35.68%), sought to help the poor, income redistribution, improved relations with Cuba and Venezuela, looser ties to the US, promised massive public works and to build a high speed bullet train from the capital to the border at Nuevo Laredo.

Five hours after the elections, the official preliminary results shows the vote too close to call as the difference between candidates is lower than the margin of error. It will be Wednesday before we know.