Mexican presidential hopefuls trade competing visions, barbs in first debate

Presidential candidate of the ruling Morena party Claudia Sheinbaum waves while arriving to the first presidential debate, at the facilities of the National Electoral Institute (INE), in Mexico City, Mexico, April 7, 2024. REUTERS/Quetzalli Nicte-Ha

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican voters took measure of their presidential hopefuls on Sunday night at a feisty first debate, with the two leading candidates both pledging to make history as the Latin American nation's first woman president.

In the inaugural televised debate ahead of June's election, ruling party frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum stressed her experience and successes as the former mayor of the Mexican capital, while main opposition hopeful and former Senator Xochitl Galvez touted her humble origins and derided the scholarly Sheinbaum as an "ice lady" who lacks charisma.