Indonesia Election: LSI Survey Shows Rebound in Popularity of Joko Widodo
After having seen his lead over rival Prabowo Subianto narrow considerably in recent months, the latest survey released by the Indonesia Survey Circle (LSI) today (07/07) indicates that presidential candidate Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo’s popularity has rebounded, although the race remains tight. According to the survey, Jokowi and running mate Jusuf Kalla secured 47.8 percent of respondents’ votes, slightly higher than their rivals Prabowo Subianto and running mate Hatta Rajasa at 44.2 percent.
The LSI survey was conducted between 2 and 5 July 2014, using multistage random sampling with 2,400 samples (with a two percentage point margin of error).
LSI researcher Fitri Hadi stated that the margin between both candidates has widened for the first time since September 2013 when Jokowi still had a 39.2 percent lead (the gap narrowed to only 0.5 percent in June 2014). The latest survey now shows a 3.6 percentage point lead for Jokowi, supported by recent massive campaigning by his team, which includes the unfolding of several new policies in Jokowi-Kalla’s ‘first 100 days in office-program’ such as the Indonesia Health Card, as well as support from artists, public figures in (social) media. On Saturday (05/07), a big music concert was organized in the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta in which many famous Indonesian artists and musicians participated and showed their support for Jokowi.
Hadi added that, since the gap between both candidates is quite narrow, the group of undecided voters will have a major influence on the outcome of the election. Moreover, despite the campaigning period has ended, voters can still decide to change their minds.
On Wednesday 9 July 2014, the Indonesian electorate will vote for its next leader. This new leader replaces incumbent president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who will end his second term in October 2014.