Thai Democrats 'Have Faith' Despite Bad Surveys

[webfact]

Democrats 'have faith' despite bad surveys

By The Nation

The ruling Democrat Party said yesterday it had little belief in opinion polls suggesting the opposition Pheu Thai Party would win a landslide victory in the July 3 election, as many voters had not yet made up their minds.

According to the recent Bangkok Poll, Pheu Thai leads the Democrats both in the party list and Bangkok's 21 constituencies - with 44 per cent of people still undecided on which party to vote for.

The Democrats' election chief Apirak Kosayodhin said he did not believe polls showing his party would lose the election, notably in the capital, as the Democrats normally captured 30 of the 36 seats in Bangkok.

However, the Democrats can secure their seats only in inner-area constituencies of the capital, while other areas are likely controlled by the opposition, he said.

The party needs to adjust its campaign tactics to gain more support from eligible voters, especially the new generation who have the right to vote for the first time, he said.

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva said his party's support almost equalled the opposition Pheu Thai's around the nation.

"It's good to hear the polls say we are the followers, so they will stimulate us to work harder," he said.

Asked if the party needed to adjust its campaign tactics, Abhisit said the party had plans and would work on them step by step.

Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said opinion-poll results were mostly artificial and manipulated by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to mislead public opinion.

"It's a psychological tactic to win support from the public but it will not affect our election campaign and we will not adjust any plan for the election," he said.

"We will play in accordance with the rules. We don't have a plan to block Yingluck [shinawatra]. Only Yingluck's associates want to block Prime Minister Abhisit," he said.

"We will win the election in the normal way," Suthep said.

Meanwhile other parties not tipped by the polls to have any significant votes in many areas said they did not pay attention to opinion polls.

"The poll is just one of many opinions and we still have three weeks to campaign," said Bhum Jai Thai Party secretary-general Porntiva Nakasai.

Bhum Jai Thai's candidate in Bangkok's 21st Constituency, Supamas Isarapakdi, said she believed not only Pheu Thai and the Democrats but also her party would get votes in Bangkok.

Supamas said many voters in the constituency would vote for her because the Democrat and Pheu Thai candidates are not local residents and have no outstanding performance.

-- The Nation 2011-06-14

[jonclark]

"We will win the election in the normal way," Suthep said.

Ahh, so its lose the popular vote, drum up charges against PTP, dissolve the PTP and then take over the government through the parlimentary process and continue ad infinitum

[samurai]

Democrat Party secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban said opinion-poll results were mostly artificial and manipulated by former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to mislead public opinion.

of course.

[bluebluewater]

I don't believe for a second that 44% are undecided

[gymboy33]

so according to suthep all the polls are manipulated by thaksin.

signs of desparation./

[toybits]

"We will win the election in the normal way," Suthep said.

[OZEMADE]

"We will win the election in the normal way," Suthep said.

But he can't win in the NORMAL WAY. In another topic the Election Commission Panel warned. " We will disqualify wrongdoers before election".

[ianf]

"We will win the election in the normal way," Suthep said.

Ahh, so its lose the popular vote, drum up charges against PTP, dissolve the PTP and then take over the government through the parlimentary process and continue ad infinitum

Look Jon, if you had any idea what democracy was about and indeed, what Global forces are behind Thaksin, the reds and so on, then you would not make statements like this.

[pastitche]

"We will win the election in the normal way," Suthep said.

Ahh, so its lose the popular vote, drum up charges against PTP, dissolve the PTP and then take over the government through the parlimentary process and continue ad infinitum

Look Jon, if you had any idea what democracy was about and indeed, what Global forces are behind Thaksin, the reds and so on, then you would not make statements like this.

Go on then, tell us about these global forces.....

[rubl]

"We will win the election in the normal way," Suthep said.

But he can't win in the NORMAL WAY. In another topic the Election Commission Panel warned. " We will disqualify wrongdoers before election".

Even if k. Suthep should be disqualified the Dem's will still manage

Edited June 14, 2011 by rubl