A thrilling election season?

It’s nearing election time in America --just about three weeks from today, in fact, when voters will choose the next president. On Tuesday, I watched an interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, who is running against former president Donald Trump in the presidential race, on CBS News' “60 Minutes”, a leading news show in the United States.

What struck me wasn’t so much how extraordinary a political leader like Harris might seem in a single interview, but rather how she made herself available for an interview, known for its tough questions that test a candidate’s substance and composure under the glare of camera lights. That’s what impresses me about the US political system. They still uphold a system of checks and balances, with the media playing a prominent role in that process.

Trump had initially agreed to appear on the program, in keeping with the tradition of US presidential candidates appearing on the show, but he later withdrew from that commitment. News reports stated that Trump backed out of the scheduled “60 Minutes” interview with shifting explanations, first complaining that “60 Minutes” would fact-check the interview. He then accused CBS News of pushing a “fake news scandal.”

This is sad because public accountability through the Fourth Estate, or news media, has always been an essential part of American democracy --a democracy so consequential to the global order, given the US being a nuclear superpower and the largest economy in the world.

Nevertheless, Trump is just being his usual self, attacking legitimate institutions and appealing to his base of support, composed mainly of white working-class voters who feel marginalized by global economic changes, as well as anti-establishment conservatives who detest political correctness.

However, two significant factors may not be working in Trump's favor this election: his advanced age of 78 and his tendency to sound like a broken record, projecting the same style without much appeal this time. Sometimes I am thankful for old age and time because they help us shed what is tiring and worn out. People will always seek fresh ideas and the vigor of life. While it means we may lose some good old people and things along the way, it at least prevents bad characters and leadership from persisting indefinitely or in perpetuity.

In the Philippines, we recently had the filing of certificates of candidacy for various local and national positions, with the deadline set for October 8. I am thankful that this time, the Comelec also set the same day as the deadline for the substitution of candidates, preventing the usual worn-out gimmicks by some politicians who keep their opponents on edge, trying to outmaneuver them and attract media attention.

In the Senate race, it is quite unfortunate that it has largely become a celebrity and family affair, with an added twist of vloggers joining the fray. Two Tulfos, Erwin and Ben, are running and are poised to win Senate seats as top contenders in the surveys, potentially joining their popular brother, Raffy Tulfo.

Meanwhile in Cebu, the perception is that next year’s cast of local leaders will remain largely the same, given the dominance of Governor Gwen Garcia's One Cebu Party in local politics. In most cities, towns, and congressional districts, there are already candidates --mostly incumbents-- predicted to win their respective races. However, a businessman and politician friend of mine once told me that there is such a thing as 'chamba' or lucky break factor in elections. A leading candidate can never afford to be complacent, while an underdog should never lose hope.

But at least in two major cities of Cebu --Cebu City and Mandaue City-- the mayoralty race will be exciting. In Mandaue City, the 2022 election results, where a lesser-known opponent of the incumbent performed surprisingly well despite losing, suggest that Mandauehanons may be looking for a new mayor.

In Cebu City, I sense that it will be a three-way race among three significant political groups: Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), which still has a substantial and solid following and is led by Councilor Nestor Archival and former mayor Tomas Osmeña, the tandem of Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia and former Councilor Jose Daluz III, and the team headed by dismissed Mayor Michael Rama.

I appreciate close races because competition often brings better promises and a sense of dynamism and vigor, which will hopefully translate into reforms and improved service for the people.