With Noli undecided, Bayani sees better chances of being admin bet

With Vice President Noli de Castro Jr.’s fate as standard bearer of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD still uncertain, Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Bayani Fernando expects to improve his chances of carrying the torch of the administration in the 2010 polls. In a radio interview Friday, Fernando expressed confidence that his ratings in surveys of prospective presidential candidates will rise through his "Kailangan Bayani" television advertisement. "I expect to improve my ratings with our TV ads. We’ve been coming out with those ads for a month now. I expect my ratings will go up," Fernando told radio dzXL in Filipino in an interview. He admitted his chances of being standard bearer have been weakened by the persistent speculations that De Castro is favored to be the Lakas-Kampi-CMD standard bearer. On Thursday, presidential political adviser Gabriel Claudio said De Castro has four days to join the administration party in order for him to be included in the list of possible standard bearer for next year's elections. Claudio said the "deadline" would not be extended as the administration party is expected to announce its final decision on September 16. [See: VP Noli has 4 days to join Lakas-Kampi-CMD] De Castro had earlier denied that he has been given a deadline to join the Lakas-Kampi-CMD. He also said he is yet to decide on his plans for next year's elections. [See: VP Noli denies deadline to decide on 2010 plans]

Aside from De Castro and Fernando, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro is also being considered to be the administration's bet in the upcoming polls. Among the three of them, however, it is De Castro who has consistently ranked among the top five presidential bets in recent surveys by pollsters Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations. In a Pulse Asia survey conducted last May 4 to 17, Fernando ranked 14th with a rating of 0.4 percent, while Teodoro ranked 12th with a rating of 1 percent. Another survey conducted by Social Weather Stations from June 19 to 22 on the "best leader to succeed" President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo showed Fernando ranking 10th with a rating of 1 percent. Teodoro ranked 14th with a rating of 0.8 percent. Ignoring his dismal showing, Fernando hinted that some of his party mates may be even be trying to sabotage him. He did not name names. "Siyempre may pulitika yan. Di ba natandaan mo three months ago , may nagsabi di ako kasama sa pilian. Wala akong nalamang ganyang kapasiyahang ganoon ng partido namin. Pero lumabas yan ang laki ng epekto sa kampanya. Umaasa ako noon [na] medyo pataas ang aking rating, tumataas na ako noon [pero] biglang-biglang parang nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Kaya ngayon siguro titingnan natin itong labas ng ads na ito...ngayon lang ako naglabas ng TV ads. Yan isang bagay na di maiwasan ang TV ngayon," he said. (Of course there are politics involved. Three months ago, someone from inside the party claimed I was not being considered a presidential bet. At the time I was already building momentum but it was like being doused with cold water. So now I am hitching my hopes on the TV ads.) - GMANews.TV