MEXICO CITY (AP) \u2014 In Mexico\u2019s first presidential debate on Sunday ahead of June 2 elections, former Mexico City Mayor and frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum appeared comfortable with her polling lead, remaining calm amid ex-Senator X\u00f3chitl G\u00e1lvez\u2019s personal attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jorge \u00c1lvarez M\u00e1ynez, a candidate from the Citizen Movement party who is polling in single digits, grinned widely and presented himself as an alternative to the other two candidates, who he said represented the \u201cold politics.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the debate, candidates responded to questions about health, education, corruption, transparency, vulnerable groups and violence against women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Polls have shown Sheinbaum of the Morena party of outgoing leftist President Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador leading by more than 20 points over G\u00e1lvez, who represents a coalition of opposition parties. If Sheinbaum or G\u00e1lvez wins, they would become the first woman president in Mexico, a country with a reputation for gender-based violence and a \u201cmacho,\u201d male-dominated culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheinbaum emphasized her connection with the highly popular L\u00f3pez Obrador and promised she would continue his policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to keep transforming Mexico,\u201d Sheinbaum said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, G\u00e1lvez launched personal attacks against her competition, including at Sheinbaum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClaudia, even if you deny it, you are still cold and heartless. I would call you the ice lady,\u201d G\u00e1lvez said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClaudia, you\u2019re not AMLO. You don\u2019t have his charisma,\u201d she said, using the president\u2019s nickname. Sheinbaum did not respond to several of G\u00e1lvez\u2019s sharpest attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mentions of L\u00f3pez Obrador were surprisingly few in the debate even though the populist leader, who is not eligible for reelection,\u00a0looms large\u00a0in the upcoming polls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The candidates also discussed rising migration levels to the United States, agreeing that migrants should be protected and respected on their path through Mexico. That contrasted with the security-focused approach pushed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notably, the candidates spoke little of Mexico\u2019s soaring levels of violence and the slayings of local candidates, but a subsequent debate is expected to focus on security topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheinbaum briefly mentioned the recent\u00a0raid of Mexico\u2019s Embassy by Ecuadorian police\u00a0on Friday, cutting in at the beginning of the debate to thank embassy staff for their bravery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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