Smart Idea, Sort Of

Excelsior reports that the PRD has decided to direct its efforts toward taking shots at Enrique Peña Nieto, with the goal of ruining his chances in 2012. The ostensible reason is that the PRD objects to his unethical use of public resources, as well as his trickery in circumventing electoral regulations, but of course, everyone is looking past that to the political considerations. This seems to suggest that the party views the other young executive presiding over a huge entity in the middle of the country as the biggest threat to Marcelo Ebrard. That makes sense, but I wonder if making the announcement so publicly (the decision was made at the party's national council) isn't a little counterproductive. If you're a priísta, doesn't this make you less likely to support Manlio Fabio Beltrones or Beatriz Paredes or Emilio Gamboa, and more likely to go with the guy that has the competition scared? Or maybe the PRD, channeling Machiavelli, is a step ahead, and Peña Nieto is the guy they really want as an opponent. In that case, I'd question their logic. Whatever; I've definitely over-thought this. Let's move on.