Estrada elated

Estrada expressed elation over his rising rating. Told that his performance in the SWS survey wasn't as good as his showing in Pulse Asia's poll, Estrada said: "Whose numbers went down? As far as we are concerned, we are moving up."

Estrada, who's running for another term after he was forced out of office in 2001, said that if his numbers continued to go up at the rate they were going, he would have a high-enough rating to win come May.

"It'd be over for them," Estrada said." In 1998, I started in third place. It's hard to be No. 1. It's more difficult (to start) from the top (and then) going down, isn't it?"

The camp of Teodoro welcomed his slight improvement in rating. "We're gaining ground right in time for the presidential elections in May," said Mike Toledo, spokesperson for Teodoro.

Mind conditioning

Gordon wondered how a small sample of respondents could accurately represent more than 50 million voters across the country.

Gordon warned against the mind-conditioning effects of the surveys.

Madrigal said she did not believe in surveys. "Unless and until these survey groups clarify who are funding them and what their methodology is, there will always be a cloud of doubt on their accuracy," she said.

-Philippine Daily Inquirer/Asia News Network