A DOUBLE-digit survey result before campaign period starts was targeted for Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro, according to administration party lawmakers.
But only half of the target was reached with the release of a special Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted on December 27-28, which showed that Teodoro's rating remained at flat five percent, the same as his previous rating.
Quezon Representative Danilo Suarez, who is also Lakas-Kampi Senior Deputy Secretary-General, said that if Teodoro's standing in surveys does not reach a double digit, this would mean his chances have become gloomy.
“It must be a double digit and by the time that we start campaign, it should increase. That should be the way that Lakas-Kampi-CMD should operate because it is the dominating party,” he said.
Teodoro's spokesman Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay, however, expressed confidence that the administration bet will still catch up in the surveys.
“It's just that we were late in introducing him to the public,” added Magsaysay.
Magsaysay said that one of the reasons for the delay is that Teodoro does not want to resort to gimmicks, saying the former National Disaster Coordinating Council chief could have taken advantage of the situation but did not.
For his part, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said Tedoro's approach to campaigning is “no nonsense.”
According to Suarez, that it should not be discounted that the Lakas-Kampi-CMD machinery is a big factor in propelling a candidate to victory as he cited his province Quezon as an example.
“Quezon is dominated by two parties only, Lakas-Kampi-CMD and Liberal... In our district, we have our own charisma to get 60 percent (of votes) but the party will only ask for 30,” he said.
Aside from the long-standing machinery, Lagman said a 20 percent influence in administration bailiwicks in the country will more or less vote in favor of the administration bet.
Lakas-Kampi-CMD is the biggest party in the country.
Meanwhile, Teodoro and running mate host-actor Edu Manzano are going to schools all over the country.
Campaign period starts today, January 10. (Angela Casauay/Sunnex)