EDITORIAL - Homestretch

The campaign period for local positions officially starts today. But if you think the expected fireworks and maneuverings will all be local, think again. The events of the past few days have given us a glimpse of what to really expect in the homestretch to the May 10 polls.

No presidential election in recent history seems to be as close among several candidates as this one. Normally, there would be a frontrunner with one other breathing down his or her neck or staying within striking distance. The rest of the candidates would be scattered far afield.

This time the race is statistically tied up front between Manny Villar and Noynoy Aquino, with two others, Gibo Teodoro and Erap Estrada, within striking distance. With still more than 40 days and going into the local phase, the race is as tight and tied among the four of them.

To be sure, the local phase of the election will be super heated. But elections being, as they say, all local, expect the presidential race to be decided right down at the grassroots. And it is here, in the house to house and corner to corner deals that everything will be decided.

Local officials and local candidates, normally veterans of local spit and claw wars, are expected to have the nose to where political victory and survival may lie. You can have as many Earth Hours as you like, but expect these grizzled warriors to know where the road lies.

Whoever snags the support of the most number of local politicians should earn the inside track in the race. So you should already get an inkling of who is the true frontrunner, by simply keeping a keen eye on who the local officials are eventually making a beeline to.

Right now local officials are playing safe. Hence you see hedge bets being placed, with groups of riders splitting to ride a different colored bus toward the same destination. But wait until you get to last kilometer. Many will be changing buses.

The local phase of the campaign is also the most crucial in this whole exercise. We love to engage in the make-believe of voting wise or according to conscience. But in the end, it is he who has the machinery and the resources who gets to pull in the grassroots.