“All the candidates benefitted from their performances,” Hanta, the executive director of Poltracking Indonesia, said as quoted by Antara.

Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono-Sylviana Murni, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat and Anies Baswedan-Sandiaga Uno were better equipped with supporting facts, he added.

(Read also: Anies-Sandiaga get positive response from netizens during second debate: Study)

Hanta said Agus-Sylviana looked calmer in the second debate and answered all the questions more smoothly. Similarly, Ahok and Djarot were both more “stable” and controlled their emotions.

Anies-Sandiaga, meanwhile, seemed to dominate the debate with their outstanding public communication skills, he said.

“As incumbents, it’s normal to see Ahok-Djarot attacked by their rivals,” he said.

The Jakarta gubernatorial candidates answer questions during the second official debate at the Bidakara Hotel in South Jakarta on Friday.(Antara/Hafidz Mubarak)

Hanta noted that Agus-Sylviana could have been better if they had “found a better rhythm.”

Hanta said Anies and Sandiaga displayed improvement with their good communication skills and “pro-people” programs. (bbs)