The Vice Presidential Race: Binay and Roxas Still in a Close Fight

As Noynoy Aquino pulls away from his rivals in the presidential race, his tandem for the vice – presidency Mar Roxas is fighting tooth and nail with the vice – presidential aspirant Jejomar Binay. As of 11:51 AM, Binay already has 12,568,709 votes. Roxas, on the other hand, has 11,722,638. About 82.91% of the Election Returns were already counted. (Source: GMANews.tv)

The close battle in the vice – presidential race was a surprise for many voters because Mar Roxas consistently topped the surveys done by the Social Weather Station and Pulse Asia. Days before the elections, Binay is being touted as the dark horse in the vice – presidential race.

The Chiz Effect and Negative Campaigns

The current upset in the vice – presidential race is credited in pert to Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero who endorsed Noynoy Aquino as president and Jejomar Binay as vice – president. Escudero’s endorsement was publicized in the media through TV and print ads. The Aquino – Binay team up was touted as NoyBi.

Escudero’s endorsement boosted Binay’s bid for the vice – presidency.

Roxas’ lead in the surveys was also partly eroded by the negative ads released by Binay’s camp. Videos showing Mar Roxas clapping on the passing of the Expanded Value Added Tax (E-VAT) Law were shown in the media and circulated in the Internet.

Anti – Noynoy went to Binay

The factor that really boosted Binay’s bid is that he became the choice of voters who do not want the Noynoy – Roxas tandem to win the elections. Loren Legarda’s poor showing in the election clearly indicates that many of her voters went to Binay. The same thing could be said about the other vice – presidential candidates who ranked lower than Legarda.