Despite trailing in polls, Escudero looking forward to election day

Despite trailing in recent preference surveys, vice presidential candidate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday said he was looking forward to May 9 national elections with a mix of nervousness and excitement.

“Siyempre kabado lahat ng tumatakbo, lahat ng kandidato, lamang man o naghahabol. Pero looking forward din ang mga kandidato na matapos na ang kampanyahan, magpasya ang taumbayan, at makapagpahinga’t makabawi nang kaunti sa tulog, at sa pamilya at mahal sa buhay,” Escudero said in a forum at Kamuning Bakery Café in Quezon City.

(Of course, all candidates are nervous whether they are leading or at the bottom. But candidates are looking forward to end the campaign, the people’s decision and rest and get some sleep and more time for their families and loved ones.)

In the latest April 26-29 Pulse Asia survey commissioned by ABS-CBN, Escudero, erstwhile frontrunner, was trailing behind administration candidate Camarines Sur Rep. Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo (30 percent) and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (28 percent) with 18 percent of voter preference.

However, Escudero said his camp was doing everything they can to improve his numbers, with only five days left before the national elections.

“Ginagawa namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya sa limitado naming resources para maparating ang aming mensahe at makahikayat ng higit na suporta sa meron kami sa ngayon,” he said.

(We are doing everything we can, with our limited resources, to bring forth our message and to persuade more support with what we have right now.)

Escudero also brushed off speculations on splitting with his running mate Sen. Grace Poe in recent campaign sorties, calling it a strategy to catch up and woo voters in areas where they are individually trailing.

READ: Escudero laughs off reports on ‘rumored rift’ with Poe

“Kahit naman ‘yung mga senador hindi na naming ganoon nakakasama. Ganyan naman talaga ang lahat ng kampanyang pinagdaanan ko. Sa huling dalawang linggo, nagpupunta na ang mga kandidato sa kung saan nila kailangang magpunta, kung saan sila mahina, kung saan sila hindi pa nakakapunta, at madalas magkakaiba ‘yan sa pagitan ng magkakatandem,” he said.

(We don’t team up with our senatorial candidates as much, too. The campaigns I go through are like that. In the last two weeks, the candidates go to areas they need to, where they are trailing, where they haven’t campaigned before and these places are sometimes different between the tandem.)

READ: Escudero: No friction, rift with Poe

“Kaya maski ‘yung mga nasa Senate slate namin, nagpupunta sila sa iba’t ibang lugar kung saan kailangan nilang maghabol. Kung ang pinatutukuyan mo ay issue, wala hong issue, talagang ‘yun lamang ang stratehiya at oras ng pangangampanya na meron kami,” Escudero added. RAM

(That’s why even the candidates under our Senate slate go to different places where they need to catch up. If you are referring to an issue, there is no such thing, it is just the strategy and time of campaign that we have.)