MANILA, Philippines?The ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD laughed off the observation of political analysts Ramon Casiple and Bobby Tuazon that its standard-bearer Gilbert ?Gibo? Teodoro was virtually out of the presidential race.

?Did [Casiple] run for mayor? [He is] just a desk officer. He doesn?t know the situation on the ground,? Raymundo Roquero, the party?s new secretary general, said on the phone. ?Gibo Teodoro is very much in the running.?

In Pulse Asia?s March 21-28 survey, Teodoro trailed Sen. Benigno Aquino III, Sen. Manuel Villar and Joseph Estrada with 7 percent.

But Teodoro scoffed at the results, and vowed to win the presidency by traditional campaigning.

?I don?t believe in surveys anymore,? he told reporters on Wednesday. ?I?ll not comment on surveys. We?re going down to the barangay level, and we?re going to win this election.?

No resources

According to Casiple, Teodoro?s problems are compounded by the fact that the ruling party?s vaunted machinery has so far not materialized, owing to meager resources and the subsequent defections of local officials to other parties.

?The machinery and resources didn?t appear, for all the hype that with the dominant party, you have lots and lots of resources,? Casiple said in an interview in his Quezon City office.

He said that even if President Macapagal-Arroyo poured all resources into Teodoro?s campaign, it would be too late.

?Besides, the more she campaigns for Gibo, the more counterproductive for Gibo,? he said.

Landslide win

In a statement issued earlier Friday, Roquero claimed that Lakas-Kampi-CMD would deliver votes for Teodoro to ensure ?a landslide victory.?

He said the party was fielding candidates running unopposed in 43 congressional races, 18 gubernatorial races, and 45 mayoral contests.

?Even before the voting, we already have winners in those races. This is the critical advantage of Lakas-Kampi which is not reflected in self-serving opinion surveys,? Roquero said. ?We?re all geared up to give Gibo a landslide.?

Roquero also said a ?silent majority,? particularly among the youth, was backing Teodoro.

?This silent majority is fed up with negative politics?the politics of hate?and believe Gibo Teodoro can lead this nation to economic greatness and heal its painful political divisions,? he said.