Jokowi, Prabowo Expect Election Debate Can Raise Swing Votes

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two campaign teams of candidates in the 2019 presidential election, Joko Widodo or Jokowi - Ma'ruf and Prabowo - Sandiaga expected to obtain swing voters’ voice through the first election debate.

The advisor of Jokowi - Ma'ruf camp Romahurmuziy or Rommy said a high number of swing voters would be a chance to sweep more votes.

“Based on surveys conducted since the registration period, the number of swing voters moves from 10 to above 20 percent. That’s quite high. So, we aim to collect swing votes,” said Rommy when met at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, Thursday, January 10.

Jokowi - Ma'ruf TKN secretary, Hasto Kristiyanto, said his team would strive to convince voters who do not have the psychological closeness with political parties in the first election debate. “Through this debate, we have a chance to assure floating voter to make a choice,” said Hasto in the same location.

Meanwhile, the Prabowo - Sandiaga camp also prepared appropriate strategies to attract swing voters and undecided voters, said the campaign team's director of volunteer affairs Sudirman Said.

“We, of course, have to acknowledge public aspiration; communicate with them in their language,” said Sudirman in Prabowo - Sandiaga Media Center, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Wednesday, January 9.

Sudirman said that most of the voters are educated individuals. Therefore, he said his team would present data, facts, and logical argument to convince them in the first election debate that is slated to take place on January 17, 2019.

DEWI NURITA