|
Thursday, May 06, 2004
Arroyo widens lead over Poe: Pulse Asia
MANILA -- President Arroyo has stretched her lead over opposition candidate Fernando Poe Jr. five days before Filipinos vote in the presidential elections, a Pulse Asia survey said Wednesday.
The poll by independent research firm Pulse Asia predicted Arroyo would win 37 percent of the vote compared to 31 percent for Poe.
The April 26-29 survey of Pulse Asia involved 1,800 respondents with a 2.4 percent margin of error. Sen. Panfilo Lacson placed third with 11 percent, Raul Roco Sr. with seven percent, Bro. Eddie Villanueva with five percent. Six percent said they don't have a presidential candidate and two percent are still undecided.
The ratings in the previous survey conducted in March 27 to April 4 are: Arroyo, 34 percent; Poe, 31 percent; Roco, 12 percent; Lacson, 10 percent; and Villanueva, 3 percent. Those who don't have presidential candidates comprise seven percent of the respondents, while three percent were undecided.
Arroyo's score rose in Luzon (from 23 to 27 percent), Visayas (from 56 to 58 percent), Mindanao (from 38 to 46 percent), Class D (from 34 to 39 percent) and Class E (from 32 to 35 percent). But she lost in Metro Manila (from 28 to 26 percent) and Class ABC (from 37 to 33 percent).
Poe gained points only in Luzon (from 32 to 38 percent) and Class D (from 27 to 28 percent). He lost in the Visayas (from 20 to 19 percent), Mindanao (from 42 to 34 percent), and Class ABC (from 22 to 18 percent). His ratings stayed at 27 percent in Metro Manila and in Class E at 41 percent
Lacson's ratings picked up in all areas - in Metro Manila (from 17 to 19 percent), Luzon (from 11 to 13 percent), Visayas (five to six percent), Mindanao (six to nine percent), Class ABC (13 to 19 percent), Class D (11 to 12 percent), and Class E (six to seven percent).
Roco's score dropped in all geographical areas and socio-economic classes after he went to the US for medical treatment last month. Villanueva's scores also rose by a few points except in Mindanao where his two percent rating stayed and in Class E where his three percent was shaved by one percent.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said Malacaņang is "quite pleased" with the most recent Pulse Asia survey. "This confirms that President Gloria continues to pick up steam as we approach election day. But as we have said time and again in the past, the most important survey will occur on May 10," he said.
Bunye said Arroyo and her team will be "unrelenting" in the next few days in reaching out to the people.
Sen. Noli de Castro (K4) continued to lead the vice presidential race, but his score dropped from 49 percent in March 27 to April 4 to 46 percent in April 26 to 29. He lost points in Luzon, Mindanao and in all socio-economic classes.
Sen. Loren Legarda's (KNP) rating rose from 35 to 37 percent, following gains in Luzon, Mindanao, and Classes D and E. Herminio Aquino's (Alyansa ng Pag-Asa) score dropped from four to three percent even if he gained points in Metro Manila and Class ABC.
Rodolfo Pajo's marks also dropped from 0.4 to 0.1 percent because none of the respondents voted for him. The number of those who said they don't have a vice presidential candidate yet rose from 10 to 12 percent.
The number of respondents who said their preferences for president and vice president could still change dropped as election day nears.
Senate race
Former Trade Sec. Manuel Roxas II (administration) led the senatorial race with 48.9 percent, followed by former Videogram Regulatory Board (VRB) chair Ramon Revilla Jr. (administration) with 43.6 percent.
The others who made it to the Magic 12 were: Aquilino Pimentel Jr. (opposition), 38.1 percent; Alfredo Lim (opposition), 36.3 percent; Jamby Madrigal (opposition), 36 percent; Miriam Santiago (administration), 35.3 percent; Juan Ponce Enrile (opposition), 33.9 percent; Richard Gordon (administration), 33.7 percent; Jinggoy Estrada (opposition) and Manuel "Lito" Lapid (administration), 32.9 percent each; Rodolfo Biazon (administration), 30.7 percent; and Ernesto Maceda (opposition), 30.2 percent.
Still within reach of a Senate seat are administration candidates John Osmeņa, 29.8 percent; Robert Barbers, 29.5 percent; Pia Cayetano, 28.4 percent; and Orlando Mercado, 27.9 percent.
Only 44 percent of Filipino voters said they are aware of the party-list system. Bayan Muna led voter preference among the party-list groups with 19.7 percent, which translates to three seats in the House of Representatives.
The others that would gain one to three congressional seats are Anakpawis (7.5 percent), Akbayan! Citizens' Action Party (6.4 percent), Ang Nagkakaisang Kabataan Para sa Sambayanan (4.8 percent), Gabriela Women's Party (4.8 percent), Butil Farmers' Party (4.4 percent), Alyansang Bayanihan ng mga Magsasaka, Manggagawang Bukid at Mangingisda and Adhikain at Kilusan ng Ordinaryong Tao (4 percent), Sanlakas (3.5 percent), Association of Philippine Electric In the Cooperative (3.3 percent), Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (three percent), Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (2.6 percent), Bigkis Pinoy Movement (2.2 percent), and Cocofed-Philippine Coconut Producers Federation, Inc. (2.2 percent).
In the April 10-17 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, tactical voters or those who would vote to help defeat a candidate they dislike in case their first choice will not likely win, doubled to 20 percent of the electorate compared to only 10 percent in the 1998 elections.
SWS found that tactical voting is most common in the Visayas (28 percent) and least common in Metro Manila (12 percent) and Southern Luzon South (12 percent).
Tactical voting is more common among the lower classes and those voting for Poe. It is close to average among Villanueva-voters and Arroyo-voters (20 percent each) and Lacson-voters (19 percent).
Also in the March 21-29 survey of SWS, 46 percent favored having international observers in the May elections with most of the respondents coming from Metro Manila, Class ABC and Luzon. JMR/AFP
(May 6, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click
here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
