Thus far, questions of strategy, tone and subterfuge over a range of issues are being examined by a public that appears already confused by the contours of the ongoing political campaign spectacles.

Increasingly, it seems the people are hindered by a choice between habit and sentiment on one side, and realism and rationality on the other.

These are all very evident both in the presidential candidates’ expensive television advertisements and in their campaign speeches before varying crowds.

Nacionalista Party bet Sen. Manuel “Manny” Villar Jr., for instance, in his drive for the presidency, makes his wealth the focus of public attention in seeking the people’s endorsement.

Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, the Liberal Party standard bearer, makes obvious the dramatization of his parents’ memory as motivation for political favor.

And Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr., the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD presidential hopeful, clinging to the idea that the final “outcome of the votes will not be determined by opinion polls, but by the country’s intelligent and mature voters.”

Of course, the other presidential aspirants such as Sen. Dick Gordon of Bagongbayan, former Pres. Joseph Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, Jamby Madrigal, Eddie Villanueva and the rest are making their presence felt with their occasional appearances in print and the electronic media with the stories of their own essential importance and greatness.

And they are appreciated correctly or mistakenly for what they really are and not for what or how they portray themselves to be.

This could be what Gibo Teodoro meant when he said that it will be the intelligent and mature voters who will determine the outcome of the May 10 elections.

Teodoro made the statement to point out the unreliability of opinion polls that are making predictions on the possibility of who will win the presidential polls.

The fact is, there have been aired in mostly private conversations suspicions about the frequent releases of opinion polls with practically unchanging results of likely presidential
winners.

In an interview last week Teodoro said he remained “unfazed by the most recent Pulse Asia survey which indicated that he still failed to reach the two-digit mark by posting a low seven percent standing among the country’s presidential bets.”

They can go on with their surveys, he said, but assured everybody that he would go on with his drive for the country’ presidency, adding that “I know the numbers of my supporters are increasing.”

According to the latest report, about 71 percent of local government officials are gearing up to campaign for Gibo Teodoro nationwide starting middle of this month.

They describe Teodoro as the most qualified and capable candidate for the country’s top post and the only one among the candidates who presents a clear and most acceptable platform of government.

(zhern_218@yahoo.com)