Mexican ruling party insiders fear embattled president a liability

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto delivers an address to members of the British All-Party Parliamentary Group at the Houses of Parliament in London, March 3, 2015. REUTERS/Toby Melville

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican ruling party lawmakers fear President Enrique Pena Nieto's lurch into scandal, weak economic record and struggle to tame corruption could hurt them in upcoming elections, raising pressure on him to take bold steps or shake up the cabinet.

Pena Nieto's approval rating has slumped to as low as 25 percent since events began to spiral out of control with the September abduction and apparent massacre of 43 trainee teachers by corrupt police and a drug gang in southwest Mexico.