Candidates face off for final debate ahead of Mexico's presidential vote

Mexico's presidential candidates laid out their visions for the nation in a third and final televised debate on Tuesday (June 12), with leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador the reported favourite to clinch Los Pinos on July 01.

The ruling PRI candidate, former finance minister Jose Antonio Meade, kept to his campaign message of economic growth and poverty reduction, but he finds himself aligned with the unpopular government of President Enrique Pena Nieto.

39-year-old Ricardo Anaya, who is heading a right-left coalition, vowed during the debate to bring Pena Nieto and Meade to justice following a series of corruption allegations that have plagued the outgoing government.

64-year-old leftist Lopez Obrador brushed off the attacks from his rivals. He has run on a popular platform to disrupt the ruling political class in Mexico. But his critics have also lambasted Lopez Obrador for coming from the same group of career politicians.

The wildcard in the debate is independent candidate Jaime Rodriguez. Although he trails in fourth place, Rodriguez has portrayed himself as a rogue amongst Mexico's politician and the real alternative in the vote.

According to an opinion poll earlier this week, Lopez Obrador has a double-digit lead over his rivals with 37.2 percent of support. Second-place Anaya sits on 20.3 percent and Meade third with 17.1 percent.