Teodoro: Surveys are challenges to be overcome

Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:49:00 01/13/2010





Filed Under: Politics, Elections, Eleksyon 2010


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100113-247044/Teodoro-Surveys-are-challenges-to-be-overcome


OLONGAPO CITY— Former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr., the standard bearer of Lakas-Kampi-CMD, said survey results are just measures of popularity with no bearing on his campaign strategy of focusing on the party’s bailiwicks and the youth vote.

Teodoro, who was here on Saturday as a guest during the birthday celebrations of Lakas-Kampi stalwarts, former Zambales Gov. Vicente Magsaysay and his daughter-in-law, Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, downplayed the significance of the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey where he landed in fourth place.

Asked about Sen. Manuel Villar’s recent surge compared to his own standing in the surveys, Teodoro said: “Well, that’s the latest [survey] commissioned by one candidate from a small sample size. Surveys are just challenges.”

He said his campaign did not give much weight to survey results.

“Our strategy is our strategy, apart from the surveys. We won’t say what that is. But we have bailiwicks that, no matter what, will deliver the votes,” he added.

In a Dec. 27-28 SWS survey commissioned by a Villar ally, Teodoro had only five percent of the 2,100 respondents declaring they would vote for him.

Aquino kept the lead with 44 percent, followed by Villar's 33 percent and Estrada's 15 percent.

Teodoro said the youth would play a big role in the elections because they compose the majority of voters.

“But the youth vote now is the mature youth vote. The issues of the youth right now are their future, livelihood, quality education. [Our campaign] doesn't treat the youth as what people normally think of as ‘youth.’ The youth now are more mature than we were when we were younger,” he said.

Representative Magsaysay noted that Teodoro’s advance in the surveys was “slow but sure.”

She also said Teodoro has not been tainted by any anomaly or any charge of corruption.

“He is a very humble man and a family-oriented person. I am very proud to endorse this man because I believe he has the capability, capacity and the ability to become the next president of this country," Magsaysay said.

Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon


Original Story: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20100113-247044/Teodoro-Surveys-are-challenges-to-be-overcome