Pollster SMRC Reveals Odds on Gatot Nurmantyo Presidential Bid

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pollster Saiful Mujani Research and Consulting (SMRC) executive director Djayadi Hanan has revealed the odds on the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo’s presidential bid. “There’s Gatot, but his support is still less than 2 percent, way below Prabowo and Jokowi,” he said in Jakarta on October 5.

Gatot Nurmantyo has a low electability rating because he still serves as the TNI commander and the uncertainty surrounding his presidential nomination, Djayadi said.

Djayadi added that people who would vote for Gatot might have the same characteristics with Prabowo Subianto’s supporters. “People who prefer Prabowo are those opposing Jokowi,” he said.

Read: TNI Commander Gatot Nurmantyo Visits Soeharto's Grave

Newcomers are unlikely to emerge since Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo themselves are strong presidential candidates, Djayadi said. “So it’s no wonder that Gatot Nurmantyo can yet get more votes,” he noted.

He also predicts that a Prabowo/Gatot ticket would not beat Jokowi’s electability rating. “Because they have the same voters, the same source of votes,” he said. It would be different if Joko Widodo, the incumbent, runs for presidential office with Gatot. “He [Gatot] could reduce the number of votes for Prabowo,” Djayadi said.

Gatot Nurmantyo emerges in SMRC poll on President Joko Widodo’s three years in office. The poll shows that Jokowi garnered the highest support with 38.9 percent, followed by Prabowo with 12 percent, former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Jakarta Governor-elect Anies Baswedan and former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama.

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