Confidence, etc. = Winnability in 2010

• Legarda was a senatorial topnotcher twice (1998 and 2007).
• Roxas got the highest vote as a senator in the country’s electoral history (20 million).
• Lacson placed 3rd in the most recent presidential race. Pres. Arroyo declared she won’t run anymore and FPJ is already dead so this might be the opportune time for the ex-police chief.
• Villar is super-rich and he used to be the Senate President.
• Erap is confident enough to corner at least 30% of the votes regardless of who also run from the opposition. He said that he will only run if the opposition cannot unite behind a single candidate – which is next to impossible.
• Evangelist Eddie Villanueva seems confident that the strategy of mobilizing each of his religious followers to convince 7 others (non-followers) to vote for him will work this time around.
• Escudero can capitalize on the youth vote as well as the support of Danding Cojuangco, the Nationalist People’s Coalition stalwart.
• Binay is confident that his background in local governance will be his edge among other contenders from the opposition.
• Noli de Castro, the leading contender in most surveys, though an administration ally is very circumspect in refraining from associating himself too much with President Arroyo. He knows too well that it would be a vote reducing variable.
• Bayani Fernando is the most vocal and aggressive about his electoral bid. He interspersed Mega Manila with MMDA tarpaulins bearing his picture, and even joined a popular television singing contest (GMA-7’s Celebrity Duet) and won.
• Gordon is confident that his Subic legacy will be his ticket to the presidency.