Supporters of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gather to protest in Mexico City
Source: El Universal

Leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost Mexico’s July 2 presidential election by a narrow margin, has brought his supporters to the streets in a bid to overturn the election, on claims of fraud. The AMLO party, PRD, has yet to substantiate its claim that the election has been conducted in any way other than exemplarily. Observers from the European Union and other places have said it was clean. I was in Tijuana for the election and the AMLO party (PRD) observer also said that what he saw as clean, when I asked at a polling station. But it appears that the AMLO voters are angry at the result and insisting it must be due to fraud. If they could just produce proof! But it seems to me that the problem is the result.

Maybe it goes like this: By AMLO’s logic, if he ‘represents the people’ how could it be possible that the people could reject him? It’s impossible! It all must be a plot.

To be fair, it’s not that he hasn’t been ripped off in elections past. But 2006 is not 1988 and he’d be better off offering a stronger, more pragmatic political platform, something better than messianism and handouts, to be financed by the monetary printing press. Losing’s a bitch, but I do not think that taking to the streets is the answer. Not only is it not the answer, it’s also something he’s unlikely to win at. He needs to buck up.

El Universal has a photo gallery of this afternoon’s event here.

UPDATE: Washington Post has an amazingly awful essay from one Ronald Klain who urges AMLO to launch street riots and political havoc in Mexico to seize victory from Calderon. The objective truth of who really won the election isn’t important to him, just winning, and this scary political operative openly offers his turbulent tactical “winning” tips that have no regard for democracy or the actual will of the people. (Gee what an idealist I am!) The essay is accurately titled “Don’t Take The High Road.” It is the worst thing I’ve read in this election so far here.

UPDATE: The Washington Post also has advice from one Benjamin Ginsburg, who explains how the Bush people won in Florida, setting up their war rooms, hiring lawyers, caterers and not paying attention to editorial writers. Quite Machiavellian. But at least he doesn’t advocate street riots like the other guy. Basically, the Post was seeking to distilll experience from the Florida 2000 recount now that Mexico is front and center – it’s a useful news concept, given that everyone is looking at this race through that lens. Read it here.

Hat tip: RealClearPolitics

UPDATE: Jim Hoft at GatewayPundit has a terrific roundup here.

UPDATE: John Fund at The Wall Street Journal has a beautiful piece this morning Monday on Mexico’s significant electoral safeguards here.