Mexicans are set to vote in local elections in what is being billed as a referendum on Felipe Calderon, the Mexican president, his government and his National Action party, or PAN.<br /><br />Calderon declared war on the drug traffickers in 2006 and deployed thousands of troops and federal police, but four years later the violence has swelled.<br /><br />The drug cartels are also accused of funnelling money to political campaigns, hoping for favourable treatment when their preferred candidates are elected. <br /><br />The opposition Institutional Revolutionary party, or PRI, which ruled Mexico for more than 70 years, is predicted to do well. <br /><br />Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez reports. (July 04, 2010)
