Team PNoy: Survey results more credible than crowd turnout

THE turnout of people in campaign rallies would not translate into votes in the May midterm elections, a spokesperson for Team PNoy said, as the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) challenged the administration coalition to draw larger crowds in its sorties.

"Elections are never based on the number of individuals who attend rallies. It has never dictated the results of an election," House Deputy Majority Leader and Marikina Representative Miro Quimbo said in an interview.

UNA leaders Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada earlier said that the huge turnout in their political rallies is confirmation that the public supports the coalition.

"For me, this is the way to measure the depth of the people's support for UNA. This is the true survey of the people," Binay said.

UNA's rally in Bukidnon reportedly drew a crowd of 50,000 people, more than the turnout in the coalition's proclamation rally in Cebu. Bukidnon is the home province of UNA senatorial candidate Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Nine of the 12 administration-backed candidates entered the so-called Magic 12 in a recent pre-election survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations. Three of the remaining slots went to UNA.

Quimbo said that the poll surveys remain the credible indicator if the senatorial candidates will succeed or not in the May polls.

"We don't believe that crowd number is the best measure (in getting voter preference). Surveys are still the absolute barometer in getting the pulse of the people," Quimbo pointed out.

The Team PNoy spokesperson further said that they choose to stick to their candidates discussing platforms of governance instead of letting showbiz personalities do the work for them.

"We are not conceding that their crowd is bigger than ours even. So far, we don't field showbiz personalities on stage because this election is about the candidates, their message, their character, their credibility, their performance and the trust of the electorate," Quimbo said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)