Should Rossello & Pesquera Contest In An NPP Primary Election?
Results of the most recent Herald reader poll show a significant outpouring of support for the recently announced candidacy of Pedro Rossello in his race for Governor of Puerto Rico in 2004. When one compares last week s figures to the polling done in the Herald twelve weeks earlier, the adjective “significant” needs to be replaced by qualifiers like “startling,” or in the parlance of our teenagers, “awesome.” The New Progressive Party s (NPP) former governor (1992 2000) rose 45 points in support, drawing it from all other NPP possible contenders, as well as from the incumbent Governor, Popular Democratic Party (PDP) leader, Sila Calderon. Half of his gain was at the expense of his principal rival for the post, NPP President, Carlos Pesquera. All other NPP candidates also suffered from the Rossello onslaught. The following is a comparison of the way Herald readers handicapped candidates in the two polls. 12/5/02 2/27/03 % + or – Sila Calderon (PDP) 26% 21% – 5% Carlos Pesquera (NPP) 33
