INQUIRER.net Eleksyon 2007

Survey shows Binay leading over Lapid in mayoral race

Inquirer

DJ Yap

An overwhelming majority of voters from Makati City’s second district prefer incumbent Mayor Jejomar Binay over his main opponent, Sen. Lito Lapid, according to a recent Pulse Asia survey commissioned by the mayor’s supporters.

Ninety-four percent of registered voters in the district said they would vote for Binay who is running for a third term, as opposed to three percent who chose Lapid, said the survey conducted on April 11 and 12.

Another three percent said they were not inclined to vote for either candidate, Pulse Asia said.

In the vice mayoral race, 70 percent of the respondents said they would reelect incumbent Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado while 20 percent said they would vote for Lapid’s running mate, Nemesio “King” Yabut, the survey showed.

In the congressional race, Binay’s daughter, Abigail, was picked by 55 percent of the respondents against the 19 percent who said they would vote for her opponent, Erwin Genuino, son of Philippine Games and Amusement Corp. chair Efraim Genuino.

The survey was conducted among 400 registered voters in the district, which, according to figures provided by Makati’s public affairs chief Joey Salgado, has 175,334 voters.

District 1 has slightly more, with 199,421 voters.

Salgado said the survey, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.9 percent, was commissioned by supporters of Binay, but he did not say who they were.

But Lapid’s camp remains upbeat about his chances of wresting the mayoralty of the country’s financial center from Binay.

Alex Marcelino, Lapid’s executive assistant and media bureau chief, said the senator’s campaign recently got a much needed boost from boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.

On Friday, Pacquiao joined Lapid and members of his ticket in a motorcade which went around the city, as loud speakers blared out the names of candidates on Lapid’s ticket. His aides distributed T-shirts, chocolate bars and candies bearing the candidates’ names and photos.

“I hope you continue to support me and Mayor Lito Lapid, whom I am endorsing,” the boxing champ told residents, office workers, students and bystanders who gathered on the streets just to see him.

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