AS THE country braces for the official campaign period for the 2010 elections people are becoming increasingly aware of surveys and it seems that whether or not people believe in surveys the fact remains that they will most likely keep an eye on them as some sort of unofficial point of reference vis-à-vis their choices.

For starters, in a nationwide survey conducted by Pulse Asia from Oct. 22-30, 1,800 respondents were asked to choose their presidential and vice-presidential preferences from the list.

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The Liberal Party’s Benigno Aguino III topped that poll with a solid 44 percent of votes, followed by the Nacionalista Party’s Manny Villar (19%); Chiz Escudero, formerly of the NPC, (13%); deposed President Joseph Estrada (11%) and incumbent vice-president Noli de Castro (4%).

Bringing up the rear were administration bet Gilbert Teodoro (2%) while MMDA chair Bayani Fernando and Jesus is Lord’s Bro. Eddie Villanueva had (1%) each.

More or less the other surveys have come out with similar results so far and at this point in time we can perhaps say that based on these opinion surveys the 2010 elections will be between Aquino-Roxas, Villar-Legarda and Estrada-Binay, with the Teodoro-Manzano tandem playing the role of surprise package cum spoiler considering the formidable machinery down to the grassroots that the ruling party has at its disposal.

Aquino’s 44% appears insurmountable especially since Escudero has dropped out of the race and it appears Aquino will be the most logical beneficiary of the Escudero votes.

But we must remember that the campaign has six more months to run and anything can still happen. Now that the jockeying for position is almost over, the hard part begins. Now is the time for these candidates to get rid of generalized motherhood statements and categorically state their position on vital issues affecting the nation instead of evading giving unequivocal answers..

People are tired of rehearsed campaign clichés and the onus is greatest on the survey frontliners like Aquino, Villar and Estrada who, ironically, appear to be the most evasive so far when confronted with questions regarding these issues.

How long can voters put up with candidates who deliberately refuse to declare their take on crucial issues confronting the nation? Can survey results prevail on a people now getting fed up with the machinations of political mediocrity hiding behind the cloak of sheer popularity?