MANILA, Philippines – A new poll released on Monday found that Marcos Jr. maintained a commanding lead in the Philippines’ presidential election contest, according to a new poll published Monday, but some political watchers believe the race is far from over for nearest competitor Leni Robredo.
Support for Marcos, the deposed leader’s son and namesake, stayed at 56% ahead of next week’s election, while support for Robredo, the sitting vice president, fell to 23% from 24% a month earlier in Pulse Asia polls.
Manny Pacquiao, a former world boxing champion, and Manila Mayor Francisco Domingoso received 7% and 4% of the vote, respectively. The election is scheduled on May 9.
Pulse Asia interviewed 2,400 people between April 16 and 21. Political analyst Temario Rivera thinks the survey may have missed the recent surge of support for Robredo, who has been meeting with tens of thousands of people in the last few days.
If we get to a point where surveys can’t fully capture what’s happening on the ground, Rivera says that could happen soon.
He claimed a slew of endorsements or late shifts of allegiance in support of Robredo, 57, from mayors, candidates, governors, and lawmakers in recent weeks.
Marcos, 64, has said that he would not let his excellent poll numbers to distract him from the effort necessary to achieve victory.
According to a survey issued Monday, his running partner, Sara Duterte-Carpio, the daughter of current President Rodrigo Duterte, is still the favourite to succeed him as vice president, a position chosen independently from the president.
Duterte, whose six-year tenure expires at the end of this month, has not backed a presidential candidate, but his political party has nominated Marcos.
Over 67 million Filipinos are registered to vote in the elections, which had a high turnout in the past.
