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Agus' support down after 1st debate: Survey
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Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Yudhoyono (second left) answers a question during the first official candidates debate on Jan. 13 while his running mate Sylviana Murni (left), his rival Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (second right) and running mate Djarot Saiful Hidayat listen. (JP/Seto Wardhana.)
A
n “unconvincing” performance from Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono during the first official gubernatorial candidates debate has caused a dip in his support in the three-horse race for the top job in the capital, a new survey released Friday suggested.
The Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) found that support for Agus, who is paired with former long-time Jakarta bureaucrat Sylviana Murni, plunged to 22.5 percent in January from 30.8 percent in the previous month, while the incumbent Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama-Djarot Saiful Hidayat ticket topped the poll with 34.8 percent.
The poll, which was conducted in the Jan. 14-20 period with an error margin of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, found that support for the third candidate pair of Anies Baswedan and Sandiaga Uno had slightly risen to 26.4 percent in January from 24.4 percent in December.
The poll found that Agus' support had declined partly because only 17 percent of likely voters who watched the televised official debate on Jan. 13, estimated at 62 percent of the total 641 respondents, said the former army man had outperformed Ahok and Anies during the event.
"The debate aired [on Jan. 13] affected the level of support for all candidates. The more people are satisfied with one candidate's performance the more likely he will come out as a winner [of the election]," SMRC Research Director Deni Irvani told the press.
The Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) is holding a second official gubernatorial debate focusing on bureaucracy, public services and urban planning on Friday night. (evi)
