The Buenos Aires Herald reported that according to a recent poll, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff “is coasting into an election year” as the clear favorite, though “she must do more to curb violence and corruption to maintain her popularity.” 

Prensa Gráfica of San Salvador reported that Jorge Velado, president of the ARENA party’s national executive council, alleged that the ruling leftist FMLN party and its presidential candidate, Salvador Sánchez Cerén, are perpetrating political harassment

Fredy Martin reported in El Universal of Mexico City that the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) announced, in a statement signed by Subcomandante Marcos, that the armed group cannot ignore the “climate of hysteria”

Marco Cáceres said in Honduras Weekly of Tegucigalpa that there’s “one muddy election a comin’,” but still indulged in a little political soothsaying. 

Patricio Navia in Buenos Aires Herald concluded that a year before the presidential election in Brazil, President Dilma Rousseff is vulnerable, but that the opposition has yet to capitalize on her problems. 

El Tiempo of Bogotá noted the challenges to be faced by Óscar Iván Zuluaga, the candidate chosen by former President Álvaro Uribe to represent his new party (since Uribe is constitutionally prohibited from running again). 

PáginaSIETE of La Paz reported that President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela created the “Vice Ministry for the People’s Supreme Social Happiness.” 

The Buenos Aires Herald reported that two of Brazil’s most popular opposition leaders have joined forces in an unexpected alliance that could have a big impact on next year’s election, perhaps presenting a major challenge to President Dilma Rousseff in the context of a weakening economy. 

Alejandro Gertz Manero wrote of “hurricane corruption”  in El Universal of Mexico City.  He noted the old Mexican political saying that if there is someone to blame, then any scandal can be survived. 

El Mercurio of Santiago noted that the presidential candidate of Chile’s New Majority Party, former President Michelle Bachelet, issued a call to her followers to make an effort to win the election in the first round on November 17.