The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Mexico City

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain visited the Basilica of Guadalupe, home to Mexico's most revered icon, a stop likely aimed at Roman Catholics and Mexican-Americans voters in the United States.

The basilica houses a 16th-century icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a picture depicting an apparition of a brown-skinned Virgin Mary. The icon, Mexico's most beloved religious and cultural image, and the basilica is the second most-visited Catholic shrine in the world.

McCain, who arrived here late Wednesday from Colombia, then met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon for talks Thursday on fighting the illegal drug trade.

"McCain recognized the leadership that President Calderon has maintained since the start of his administration in the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking," a Calderon spokesman said after the talks.

A McCain spokesman said the trip was meant to demonstrate the high regard that the Protestant US senator feels for Catholics in both Mexico and the United States. McCain also is hoping to close the gap that his Democratic rival Barack Obama, has opened up among Latino voters.

A Time magazine poll released Thursday showed McCain with a slight, one-point lead over Catholics nationally, 45 percent to 44 percent supporting Obama.