Dismissing surveys 'irrational,' says Pulse Asia chief

Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes on Friday said dismissing surveys just because the results do not favor a particular candidate is "irrational."

"To dismiss it just because the results do not favor you, to me, is a little bit irrational," Holmes said in an ANC interview. "I would understand because that's what you would expect from someone who is a partisan."

The interview was conducted days after Pulse Asia released its March presidential survey with former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos still ahead though with a dip in his ratings.

Holmes admitted that surveys "are not infallible" and that social scientists are "prone to commit error."

"There is a level of confidence, there is a margin of error there [in surveys]," he said.

Holmes said surveys could be useful in helping candidates map their strategies.

"I would caution them in terms of going to the extent of shooting the messenger because they would have to realize that the message is important and something to assist them in calibrating their strategies," he said.

Crucial 30 days

Holmes also said that it is "quite possible" that a dramatic shift may occur in the last 30 days before election day.

"It will really depend on how each candidate would change their strategy, intensify their campaign," he said as he likened the last 30 days of the campaign to the last two minutes of a basketball game.

"The last two minutes is a crucial thing," Holmes said.

For the final stretch, Holmes urged the candidates to see how their message can be refined and to escalate activities that will generate public support for their candidacy.

it's not a question of whether the race is done. you still have 30 days and those 30 days will be crucial. it might be best for some candidates to look back in terms of their messages, how it can be refined, and try to escalate the activities that will generate public support for their candidacy. —KBK, GMA News