VOTERS backed the presidential bid of Senator Grace Poe because they saw in her eight out of 10 positive attributes that candidates for the May 9 elections should have, the latest The Standard Poll showed.
Mass media also contributed greatly to Poe’s widening lead over other presidential bets, with her “Huwag Tayong Mag-iwanan” advertisement—released after the Supreme Court stopped the Commission on Elections from disqualifying her—getting the highest net likability at +65 among other campaign messages.
Of the 10 positive attributes, Poe was the top choice of majority of Filipino voters in the following: has a clean reputation (64 percent), is honest (59 percent), will stand up for people like you (58 percent), will fulfill promises (58 percent), has the best plan for the country (58 percent), will bring the change we need (57 percent), and can unite the country (54 percent). A plurality of the respondents (49 percent) said Poe is a strong leader.
It was only for the attributes “has many accomplishments/good track record” and “can instill discipline among Filipinos” that Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte emerged as the top choices, with 57 percent and 50 percent, respectively.
On the other hand, Poe was not the top choice in any of the eight negative attributes that may apply to presidential candidates.
Senator Miriam Santiago was the top choice for the following attributes: have not heard much about his/her accomplishments (47 percent), platform and plans for the country are not clear (41 percent), and not yet ready to be president (37 percent).
Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel Roxas also led in three of the eight negative attributes: will cater to vested interests (39 percent), poor in making decisions (41 percent), and will only rely on advisers (45 percent).
At least 50 percent of the respondents perceived Binay as “can be corrupt” while 49 percent said Duterte “has a tendency to be a dictator.”
Closely behind Poe’s “Huwag Tayong Mag-iwanan” advertisement was Binay’s “Ginhawa Sa Buhay ng Bawat Pilipino” with +60 net likability and Santiago’s “Matapang, Matalino, Maka-Diyos” with +59.
When asked who among the presidential bets could best respond or resolve specific issues, Poe was the top choice for ensuring job creation (28 percent) and preparing for any calamity (27 percent); Binay for improving foreign relations (28 percent) and helping the poor (31 percent); and Duterte for reducing corruption (29 percent), fighting criminality (46 percent), and maintaining peace in Mindanao (45 percent).
The Standard Poll also showed that Poe was the top second choice for president of the “soft voters” or those who may still change their preference until the May 9 polls of all the other candidates.
Poe will get 45 percent of Binay’s soft voters, 60 percent of Roxas’ soft voters, 33 percent of Duterte’s soft voters, and 30 percent of Santiago’s soft voters.
Roxas, however, will benefit the most out of Poe’s soft voters, standing to get 35 percent if they change their minds.
As for who is the presidential bet that respondents will never vote for, 38 percent said they will not vote for the late Ambassador Roy Señeres (during the survey period, the deceased had yet to withdraw his Certificate of Candidacy). Señeres was followed by independent candidate Dante Valencia with 33 percent, Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino standard bearer Romel Mendoza with 28 percent, Duterte with 27 percent, Santiago with 24 percent, Roxas with 19 percent, Binay with 15 percent, and Poe with only 6 percent.
The survey, conducted by resident pollster Junie Laylo from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4 had 3,000 respondents—all of whom are registered voters with biometrics and who said they are sure to vote in next year’s elections. Respondents came from 79 provinces across the country and the 17 cities in the National Capital Region. It has a national margin of error of +/- 1.8 percent.