George W. Grayson is the Class of 1938 Professor of Government at The College of William and Mary.

“No scholar has followed Mexican electoral politics more closely than George Grayson, who capitalizes on that extensive knowledge to provide a readable, provocative, critical, extensively researched biography that sheds light on Mexico’s most controversial politician. Grayson’s challenging interpretations and revelations allow readers to more fully understand López Obrador’s personal and political motivations, his dramatic rise to national prominence, and his place in the recent wave of populist, left-of-center national political figures in Latin America.”—Roderic Ai Camp, Claremont McKenna College

• Contents List of TablesAcknowledgmentsList of AcronymsIntroduction1.A Child Is Born in Tabasco2.Blessed Are the Poor3.The Devil and His Ideas4.López Obrador Takes on the Romans: The 1988 Gubernatorial Campaign5.López Obrador Fights the Romans a Second Time6.PRD President: A “Miracle Worker”7.The New Jerusalem8.The Mayor of Mexico City9.“Republican Austerity” and Mañaneras10.The Loaves and the Fishes11.“La Ciudad de la Esperanza”12.Apostles, Disciples, and Magdalenas13.Challenging the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes14.Vicente Fox: López Obrador’s Last Neoliberal President15.The Eleven Commandments16. Winning the “Promised Land” 17.An Electoral Setback18.A Second Coming?Select BibliographyIndex

George W. Grayson is the Class of 1938 Professor of Government at The College of William and Mary.

“No scholar has followed Mexican electoral politics more closely than George Grayson, who capitalizes on that extensive knowledge to provide a readable, provocative, critical, extensively researched biography that sheds light on Mexico’s most controversial politician. Grayson’s challenging interpretations and revelations allow readers to more fully understand López Obrador’s personal and political motivations, his dramatic rise to national prominence, and his place in the recent wave of populist, left-of-center national political figures in Latin America.”—Roderic Ai Camp, Claremont McKenna College

• Contents List of TablesAcknowledgmentsList of AcronymsIntroduction1.A Child Is Born in Tabasco2.Blessed Are the Poor3.The Devil and His Ideas4.López Obrador Takes on the Romans: The 1988 Gubernatorial Campaign5.López Obrador Fights the Romans a Second Time6.PRD President: A “Miracle Worker”7.The New Jerusalem8.The Mayor of Mexico City9.“Republican Austerity” and Mañaneras10.The Loaves and the Fishes11.“La Ciudad de la Esperanza”12.Apostles, Disciples, and Magdalenas13.Challenging the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes14.Vicente Fox: López Obrador’s Last Neoliberal President15.The Eleven Commandments16. Winning the “Promised Land” 17.An Electoral Setback18.A Second Coming?Select BibliographyIndex

George W. Grayson is the Class of 1938 Professor of Government at The College of William and Mary.

“No scholar has followed Mexican electoral politics more closely than George Grayson, who capitalizes on that extensive knowledge to provide a readable, provocative, critical, extensively researched biography that sheds light on Mexico’s most controversial politician. Grayson’s challenging interpretations and revelations allow readers to more fully understand López Obrador’s personal and political motivations, his dramatic rise to national prominence, and his place in the recent wave of populist, left-of-center national political figures in Latin America.”—Roderic Ai Camp, Claremont McKenna College

• Contents List of TablesAcknowledgmentsList of AcronymsIntroduction1.A Child Is Born in Tabasco2.Blessed Are the Poor3.The Devil and His Ideas4.López Obrador Takes on the Romans: The 1988 Gubernatorial Campaign5.López Obrador Fights the Romans a Second Time6.PRD President: A “Miracle Worker”7.The New Jerusalem8.The Mayor of Mexico City9.“Republican Austerity” and Mañaneras10.The Loaves and the Fishes11.“La Ciudad de la Esperanza”12.Apostles, Disciples, and Magdalenas13.Challenging the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes14.Vicente Fox: López Obrador’s Last Neoliberal President15.The Eleven Commandments16. Winning the “Promised Land” 17.An Electoral Setback18.A Second Coming?Select BibliographyIndex