McCain hits Mexico
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John McCain arrived in Mexico last night from Colombia, where he had praised Colombian President Uribe’s efforts to crack down on the drug trade and where his visit coincided with the liberation of a number of long-held hostages.
At around 8 a.m today, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate of the United States paid a visit to Mexico City’s Basilica de Guadalupe, a major center of worship for the nation’s millions of devout Catholics, where he signed the visitors’ book and toured the religious site.
Commentators said that McCain’s visit to Mexico could impress the millions of Mexicans currently living in the United States.
‘Images of Mr. McCain at the basilica are being directed at the Mexican community in the United States because they are symbols Mexicans over there also identify with,’ said political commentator José Antonio Crespo in the Dallas Morning News.
McCain will also meet with President Felipe Calderón during his time in Mexico, at which point the two politicians will no doubt discuss the recently approved yet controversial cash injection from the United States of $400 million U.S. -- known as the Merida Initiative -- aimed at helping Mexico in its fight against powerful drug cartels and organized crime networks.
He is also expected to address the thorny issue of illegal immigration to the United States during his time here -- an issue about which detractors say the presidential candidate has flip-flopped.
Click here for our coverage of Merida Initiative developments.
Read the Dallas Morning News report on McCain’s visit here.....
-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City