BAGUIO CITY — The race for the vice presidency is down to a showdown between him and Liberal Party's Sen. Manuel "Mar" Roxas II, United Opposition's Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay said Sunday.

This, as Binay expressed confidence, if surveys are to be believed, that Nacionalista Party bet Sen. Loren Legarda could no longer catch up with him and Roxas.

"Loren (Legarda) is out of the race if we base on surveys," Binay told reporters in an interview.

"Nakakalungkot sabihin eh pero kung ang magiging batayan ay survey, malayo na si Loren dahil bago siya mapunta sa first (place) dadaan muna ng second so ang layo layo na nun. Kung kahit na lamang kunin natin yung Pulse Asia na lang eh, eh di yung papuntang first (place) 17 points iyung agwat. And she's freefalling. Pababa na ng pababa eh. She has no chance of going up," Binay claimed.
 
Binay also expressed confidence that his ratings will further go up in the last days of the campaign period noting that Pulse Asia's latest survey in which he is trailing Roxas by nine points was done April 23-25, which means the impact of Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero's endorsement of his candidacy has not yet been reflected.

Binay said he believes if surveys were done during this period, Roxas' lead over him would just be two to three only. And he made a fearless forecast that he would win the vice presidential race but in a close fight.

Binay said he would beat Roxas by half a million votes in the May 10, 2010 polls based on the assessment of his campaign leaders and supporters.

"They never expected that I will be their opponent in the endgame. All along they thought it would be Loren. Now they will have to review their approaches and remedial tactics," he said obviously referring to Roxas' camp.

Binay expressed belief that he has laid a strong foundation of his bid and he is confident that voters have realized that he and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino presidential bet former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada are the most qualified to lead the country in the next six years.