Senator Grace Poe (left) reverses roles with news photographers, taking the picture of newly elected Press Photographers of the Philippines officers shortly after their oath taking Monday at the Senate. Poe led the oath taking as chairman of the Committee for Public Information and Mass Media. (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Senator Grace Poe is no underdog and the attacks raised by her critics ahead of the 2016 polls may have worked to her advantage, Pulse Asia president Prof. Ronnie Holmes said Monday.
Holmes said that questions and comments on Poe’s residency were made at a time when the latest Pulse Asia survey was being conducted.
The responses made by Poe at the height of the issue, Holmes said, even led to the topic of a foundling’s chance at winning the presidency.
“What came to the national vocabulary is a concept of being a foundling, which is quite personal one and goes beyond politics,” said Holmes.
Holmes explained that results of surveys in previous elections suggest that “negative campaigning” does not always work.
While there are no measured relations on these factors, Holmes said that this would “definitely” court sympathy for Poe and turn into voting support.
“While we have not measured this in relation to let’s say in this recent event, as a political scientist I can say that that would definitely court some sympathy and for that matter that sympathy may translate into voting support,” he said.
While Poe’s qualifications have been attacked months before the 2016 polls, Holmes said it is still difficult to label her as an underdog, especially because just a few years back, she topped the senatorial polls.
He also said that Poe had a fair amount of exposure, heading the investigations of the Mamasapano tragedy and has been pushing for a Freedom of Information (FOI) law.
Holmes explains that it’s not about the attacks on Poe, but the way she responds that gives her support.
“When you have certain criticisms and accusations about her qualifications being hurled against her and she responds in a way that might be much more acceptable, might be believed by much of the public, then that attack may generate support but that doesn’t necessarily translate that she’s an underdog,” he explained.
In the latest Pulse Asia survey, Poe became the frontrunner in the 2016 presidential race, overtaking Vice President Jejomar Binay.
The survey conducted from May 30 to June 5 showed Poe enjoying the lead in the May 2016 presidential race, with 30 percent of voters saying they would vote for her. (MNS)