mexico city mire allegations corruption mexico rule institutional revolutionary party pri throw weight behind untainted outsider bid clean image hang presidency elections next july never member party former finance minister pri presidential hopeful jose antonio meade face delicate balance act persuade undecided voters cut graft without alienate grassroots support need win prove tough job awkward symbiosis limit meade ability play strengths pri grandees hope overcome accusations embezzlement fraud vote buy plague party president enrique pena nieto reliant pri machinery deliver vote meade must wrap party banner distance campaign failures outgo government also represent rock hard place say andres rozental former deputy mexican foreign minister pena nieto constitutionally bar re-election centrist pri formally elect candidate feb. 18. however party line behind meade hold various cabinet post across two oppose administrations announce run late last month meade technocrat sharp command minutiae economy launch campaign pri candidacy straw sombrero festoon red green streamers poor southern town san juan chamula dec. 14. meade acknowledge pena nieto speech call secure mexico detail policies directly address corruption like president say graft must attack strengthen institutions subsequent out rally pri faithful continue frame vision general term prompt expressions dismay supporters typical pri campaign say one pro-meade lawmaker shake head speak condition anonymity poll show meade plenty work survey poll firm parametria publish dec. 19 put 11 percentage point behind leftist front-runner andres manuel lopez obrador former mexico city mayor spend years rail corruption inequality another survey pollster mitofsky show month 57.4 percent voters reject pri nearly seven point october 17 point party december 2011 point previous campaign pri lead 17 point one five voters reject party accord mitofsky data serve cabinet almost seven years run meade sell irreproachably honest safe pair hand economy paint lopez obrador conservative rival ricardo anaya risky bet mexico stability however time government leave 48-year-old problematic legacy defend gang violence worsen past couple years murder hit record high 2017 l1n1on0eq meanwhile economy grow barely percent annually less half rate government first target inflation near 16-year high peso depreciate 34 percent dollar pena nieto study pew research center september identify crime corruption top concern mexicans standard-bearer unpopular government meade present compel solutions problems rival say one senior official back one government big mistake see damage corruption could reputation say official also speak condition anonymity official say believe meade policies could become clear formally invest pri candidate meade campaign reply request comment another government official closely follow campaign say meade could recognize fail pri could expect attack party take pri core vote grant official say pri governors lawmakers pena nieto face allegations corruption could suicidal meade push tough line graft say juan pardinas general director mexican institute competitiveness think tank could take strong stance corruption pri candidate ask like take strong stance racism ku klux klan rally mexico presidential hopeful hem rule party legacy