Obama Chavez And Morales Side By Side In Mexico.

Obama fever gripped the Mexican capital on Wednesday (April 15) as the country prepared for a high profile visit by the U.S. President the following day. A wax museum in Mexico City, which unveiled Obama's wax figure a couple of weeks ago, witnessed a flurry of activity as visitors flocked to the museum to have their photograph taken with the U.S. president. Ironically, the wax w ork of Obama was presented in the museum's central gallery alongside Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales of Bolivia, who are both harsh critics of the U.S. A wax work of Mexican President Felipe Calderon was placed at a distance from those of Obama, Chavez and Morales but seemed to attract far less attention. "For most this is the only opportunity they will have to photograph themselves next to President Obama or with any of the characters exhibited here. Fortunately President Obama has had a lot of acceptance. We exposed the wax work only a couple of weeks ago here at the museum and it has been well received by the public who like taking a good souvenir of him," said the museum's director, Mauricio Rabner. Outside the National Museum of Anthropology in the capital, there was a visible police presence on the city's streets, especially around the buildings Obama is scheduled to visit when he arrives on Thursday (April 16). Federal and municipal police could also be seen at several major junctions around the city. Security was particularly tight around the hotel where Obama is expected to stay. Victor Gallo, the chef at the hotel's restaurant, said it was understandable why so many security measures were being put in place ahead of Obama's visit. "It's a hotel with 42 floors which is at risk, the suite is located on those floors, the presidential suite and obviously it's a risk for him, for such an important person for us all. These are very strong security measures but at the same time, they are very necessary," he said. Battered by unprecedented criminal violence and an economy sharply contracting, many analysts see Obama's visit as offering some relief for Mexico. The Mexican economy, heavily dependent on exports to the United States, is in recession and oil reserves are drying up. Mexico City resident Karina Cruz played down the significance of Obama's visit, saying he was not the first U.S. president to visit Mexico. "We are simply told it's good for both sides, but we can't see any benefit after several visits from a U.S. leader, not in the economy or in migration issues which worry us all," said Cruz. Obama, in his first visit to Latin America, is expected to offer strong backing to Calderon, whose National Action Party has swung Mexico closer to the United States after it ended 71 years of one-party rule in 2000. The Obama administration is tightening the U.S.-Mexico border to prevent trafficking of U.S. guns to Mexican cartels and is hoping to send Black Hawk helicopters to help Calderon defeat well-armed cartels that killed 6,300 people last year in turf wars. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton soothed Mexico when she acknowledged last month that the violence was partly the fault of Americans and their "insatiable demand" for drugs. With increased U.S. backing, Mexicans are more optimistic that Calderon can defeat drug lords who have defied a military campaign against them since 2006. Obama will stop in Mexico on Thursday before traveling to Trinidad and Tobago for the Fifth Summit of the Americas on Friday (April 17). Many see Obama's visit as a signal of support for President Felipe Calderon and his efforts to confront violent drug trafficking gangs.

LiveLeak | April 16, 2009

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