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Para ver esta página en español, oprima aquí. PUERTORICOWOW Survey: Hernandez Mayoral, Santini Favorites For Governor By Proviana Colon Diaz
February 1, 2003 A University of Puerto Rico (UPR) phone survey revealed that if the elections were to be held today, the strongest contenders for the gubernatorial race are not necessarily those being promoted by the island’s political parties. In fact, those favored by the people, Jose Alfredo Hernandez Mayoral for the Popular Democratic Party (PDP) and San Juan Mayor Jorge Santini for the New Progressive Party (NPP) denied Friday having any interest in the gubernatorial race of 2004. "I have said I have an inclination for a political career, and I have said I am inclined to run for the Legislature. (The results) motivate me to run but not for the gubernatorial race," Hernandez Mayoral said in an afternoon radio interview. Santini, who according to the survey would lose only to Hernandez Mayoral, affirmed that he is not interested in running for the gubernatorial post. "I win over anyone in San Juan, and the best survey is my job," said Santini. According to a survey conducted by a UPR Political Science Department professor, if the elections were to be held today, NPP President Carlos Pesquera would lose the gubernatorial race against any candidate of the PDP. Gov. Sila Calderon would lose re-election only if her rival was Santini. Santini himself would lose against Hernandez Mayoral, thus making the son of former Gov. Rafael Hernandez Colon the PDP’s strongest candidate. "Hernandez Mayoral is the most consistent candidate within all (island) zones and both parties," said UPR Political Science Prof. Jorge Benitez. Benitez revealed Friday the results of the gubernatorial race political survey conducted by students of the "Social Politics Investigation Techniques" laboratory requirement course. If Calderon were to run against Pesquera, she would receive 51.7% of the votes, he 40%, and Puerto Rican Independence Party (PIP) Emeritus President Ruben Berrios would get 8.3%. Santini would get 48.4 % over Calderon’s 42.5 %, and PIP Sen. Fernando Martin would get 9.1%. But when that race is debated with Hernandez Mayoral, he obtains 48% over Santini’s 45.7%. A random selection of homes across the island led students to place 2,650 calls, of which 1,015 calls were fruitful. The calls were made from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15 of 2002. People were interviewed from Monday to Thursday and from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Benitez noted that those are the days and hours in which a mixed group of people can actually be surveyed.
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