Mexico Election: Tracking the political journey of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

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How did Lopez Obrador come all the way to this victory? CGTN's Alasdair Baverstock looks at his political journey.

His name is Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, but he's better known by the acronym of his initials - 'AMLO'. He's a left-wing populist politician, championing the country's marginalized.

ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR MEXICAN PRESIDENT-ELECT "Lowering the salaries of the rich and raising those of the poor makes me the populist at the top of the list."

AMLO hails from Mexico's eastern state of Tabasco - where he began his political career as a member of Mexico's current ruling party, the PRI.

He switched party alliance to the PRD before ascending to the positon of mayor of Mexico City. And in 2006, he campaigned for the presidency, but lost by less than point-six percent of the vote.

ALASDAIR BAVERSTOCK MEXICO CITY "After losing the 2006 election, AMLO alleged electoral fraud, and his supporters blocked this thoroughfare, the beating heart Mexico City, the Paseo de la Reforma, for a number of months. It was a protest that local leaders say cost shops here millions of dollars in lost business."

In 2012, he ran and lost again - this time to current president Enrique Nieto. This is his third shot at the country's top job.

Felipe de la Cruz is a Mexico City congress member for MORENA, the political party AMLO formed after his second unsuccessful attempt at the presidency.

FELIPE DE LA CRUZ MORENA POLITICAL PARTY "Andres Manuel has made it his priority to improve the lives of ordinary Mexicans with investment, and when people ask where the funds will come from, our answer is that we will put an end to the corruption, and send that money where it is destined in the first place."

JOSUE ESCOBEDO POLITICAL CONSULTANT "Andres Manuel represents the start of a change in Mexican politics. His election will mean that the public has accepted a different form of politics and wants to see change. We won't see a huge difference, but rather his election will show that Mexico is ready for real political shake-up."

Observers wonder whether he would tone down the divisive rhetoric of his campaign and what that might mean for the future of Mexico's marginalized masses, who would form the bedrock of his mandate. Alasdair Baverstock, CGTN, Mexico City.