MEXICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY CANDIDATES WAVE BEFORE TV DEBATE, 1999-10-26 (photo)

Mexican ruling PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) Presidential primary candidates (L-R) Humberto Roque Villanueva, Francisco Labastida Ochoa, Manuel Bartlett and Roberto Madrazo wave to photographers on the set of their TV debate in this September 8 file photo. The candidates, are the first in the PRI's 70 year rule of Mexico to openly contest their party's nomination for the Presidency. Up until now, the PRI's candidate was hand-picked by the incumbent President. With less than two weeks to go until the November 7 primary, Mexicans are wondering if the ruling party's first ever primary election to choose a presidential candidate for 2000 is for real or a masquerade. Francisco Labastida, widely seen as the preferred candidate of President Ernesto Zedillo, enjoys the thinly disguised backing of the party apparatus and many ruling party state governors have made little secret that they support him. AW/ZDC