Harry Roque’s lament on Senate bid

Here, the lawyer, former congressman, now presidential spokesman Harry Roque was talking about himself and not for his boss President Duterte. Pulse Asia just released the names of those whom the country would elect as senators if the elections were held on Sept. 1 to 7. And Roque landed #29-36, remotely far from the Magic 12.

It was a lament for himself and others who aspire for the Senate and can’t get nearer than in their mind, “the unreachable star,” “the impossible dream.” and Honasan were elected after staging a siege and a series of military coups.

Name recall or household name is crucial. That means the name is recognizable and pops up in the voter’s mind, when asked in a survey or printed in the ballot. With or without a sample ballot, the voter tends to pick the familiar name. Advantage Thus, the edge of children or grandchildren of presidents (Bongbong Marcos, Serge Osmeña, Jinggoy Estrada, Sara Duterte-Carpio), candidates for president (Grace Poe, Nancy Binay), or senators (Sonny Angara, Pia Cayetano, Koko Pimentel).

Being elected also gives advantage to those seeking reelection or making a comeback. In Pulse Asia’s September survey, 13, out of 66 names, have “statistical chance of winning” and they are returning or incumbent legislators. Call it accretion: increase in value of one’s name by getting elected and mounting the national stage.

But one’s being widely known (name recall or household name) is the first and essential phase. Yet it doesn’t clinch the seat all at once. Surveys determine public awareness; yet, on top of that, it also finds out public preference or choices. Like, OK, you know the guy, you’re aware of him, will you vote for him?

Robin Padilla, Dingdong Dantes, and even Mar Roxas are widely known (96 percent on voters’ awareness) but