Democrats aiming to overtake the PPP

"I am not worrying because the numbers are close with two weeks left to woo voters to secure victory," Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjjajiva said on Friday in reference to the opinion survey projecting the PPP to grab 39 partylist seats and the Democrats with 33.

Abhisit said he had anticipated that his party was slightly trailing behind the PPP even before the survey results came out and that he remained hopeful more and more people would switch to vote for his party.

At the start of campaigning, many opinion surveys indicated the PPP leading by a wide margin but the gap was getting narrower, he said. Voters still have two weeks to make up their mind on charting the course for the country, he added, pinning hope on swing votes as about two of three voters remain undecided.

He ruled out the speculation that the political uncertainty might erupt, pledging his party's commitment to ensure normalcy regardless of the balloting outcome.

Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai said his party's popularity was improving at a promising rate.

"I don't know whether we can beat the PPP in proportionate votes but my party will certainly win more than the projected 33 seats," he said.

For the time remaining, it is possible that swing votes can lead to the Democrats and the PPP each to win 36 partylist seats, he said.

Abhisit and Chuan spoke on the sidelines of their campaign activities. The party leader was wooing votes in Bangkok while the chief adviser was leading a jeep convoy to meet constituents in the South.

The Nation