Megawati, SBY to repeat 2004 presidential duel: Survey

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his predecessor Megawati Soekarnoputri are likely to repeat the 2004 presidential election stand off, a new survey finds.

The survey confirmed previous polls with Megawati topping the presidential candidates list with 28 percent of respondents saying they would vote for her, defeating Yudhoyono with 27 percent.

The survey was conducted by a London-based research firm, Taylor Nelson and Sofres (TNS), and the National Leadership Center (NLC). It surveyed 2,000 people in 30 provinces from July 18 to 29.

The survey indicates a surprising rise in popularity for Great Indonesia's Movement (Gerindra) Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, who managed to get into top three.

The former commander of Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) was chosen by 11 percent of respondents, beating heavyweights Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X (6 percent), Wiranto (5 percent) and Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid (4 percent).

"Yudhoyono and Megawati will compete closely in the upcoming election. But thanks to his brilliant TV ads, Prabowo can significantly lift his popularity," Taufik Bahaudin of the NLC told reporters in the launch of the survey results here Thursday.

Yanti Zen of TNS said the survey found that the number of undecided respondents was relatively high, reaching only 16 percent.

Other previous surveys have also found that both Megawati and Yudhoyono will repeat the 2004 stand off, with Megawati taking lead over Yudhoyono by wider margins.(and)