Some 24.4 per cent of the group who said they planned to vote said they would vote for the Democrats. Almost 10 per cent opted for the Chat Thai Party while 8.7 per cent said they would abstain and 14.5 per cent said they hadn't made up their minds.  Assumption University's latest poll was conducted from August 1 to 17 in 32 provinces.

Compared with Abac's previous survey from July 10 to 20, fewer respondents said they would vote for Thai Rak Thai.  

About 49 per cent of the respondents who said they would vote chose the Thai Rak Thai Party last month.

Responding to an open question, 35.6 per cent of the respondents surveyed this month said political conflicts and rifts in society had shaken their faith in the government, while 31.4 per cent said they were most concerned about the economy and rising prices.

Almost 30 per cent said corruption was their main concern, while 27.4 per cent said they were disturbed by reports of interference in the Senate's selection of candidates for the National Counter-Corruption Commission (NCCC) and the Election Commission (EC).

The poll director, Noppadon Kannika, said the people's faith in the Thai Rak Thai government had weakened.

The party should consider such alternatives as Somkid Jatusri-pitak to Thaksin Shinawatra to prevent further damage. "The other parties, including the Democrats, will have to propose concrete policies and activities to draw votes outside urban areas," he said.