Editor’s Note: Mark Alvarez, a Salt Lake City attorney who’s been living in Mexico with his wife Lorena since the summer of 2007, offers an excellent observation about tomorrow’s presidential election from the vantage point of our southern neighbor.

Yesterday, November 2, Mexicans celebrated the Day of the Dead with sweet bread, sugar skulls and offerings for the departed. In the downtown square or Zocalo, a group put on a demonstration of a prehispanic ball game. Today was another work day, and the bus to Tlalnepantla was standing room only at 6 a.m.

Last year, the Mexican press covered the story of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama running for president of the United States. The general view held that U.S. voters would elect a woman before they elected an African-American or a Latino.

Barack Obama changed that perception by attracting voters, financial support and attention from people in the U.S. and around the world. Now, Senator Obama stands on the cusp of a historic victory. He also faces a great challenge: that of cleaning up after a failed administration. The task is daunting.

The Mexican press has covered Senator Obama’s positions concerning the use of force. Especially regarding the war against Iraq, Senator Obama has spoken wisely and well. The U.S. cannot afford the cost in terms of lives, money and damaged reputation. Tactics and strategy must change. Military funding and use should be rethought.

Senator Obama will likely be president-elect tomorrow evening. President-elect Obama shortly will have to formulate precise plans to deal with economic distress. His decisions will have great effect in the U.S. and around the world.

Mexicans certainly will be paying attention. Last summer, Mexican President Felipe Calderon assured Mexicans that Mexico was well insulated against U.S. economic turmoil. That changed. On October 8, the Mexican GDP growth projection for 2009 was reduced from 3.0 percent to 1.8 percent. Any Mexican schadenfreude over U.S. economic difficulty rapidly faded with the sobering reality of American interdependence.

Barack Obama has excited people around the world with his charisma and vision. While Mexicans and others understand President Obama will look out for U.S. interests, they sense something different in Obama. Change is coming and change is needed.

This morning, some Mexican students told me they hoped that people in the U.S. could understand that we are not that different. Many Mexicans live much as people in the U.S. do. They don’t wear hats, ride horses and live in huts. Not that there is anything wrong with any of the foregoing. Mexico has a diversity to be appreciated.

Mostly, my students, who work in business, stressed the need for working together. Last week, I voted for Barack Obama because I thought his vision best matched that need. Election Day is also the Day of the Lame Duck. Something to celebrate, but in the knowledge that the following day will bring more work.

The last question from my Mexican friends: “How did we elect President Bush? Twice?”