Poruethai finished seventh, and Chiang Mai has only five Senate seats.

Law lecturer Somchai Preechasinlapakun, from Chiang Mai University, said normally the name Shinawatra scored well, but in the case of Poruethai, her personality might have let her down.

"Her work is not outstanding as far as local people are concerned and she didn't really seem to dedicate her campaign to the people," said Somchai.

When compared with Praphan Buranupakorn, who is close to the Thai Rak Thai Party, Poruethai didn't seem to have done as much public work, he said.

But he was quick to discount a swing against Thaksin in the North.

"Just because Poruethai was rejected by Chiang Mai people, it doesn't mean the people rejected Thaksin," said Somchai.

But he said this meant that having the name Shinawatra didn't necessarily assure automatic election.

Somchai also said former Mae Ai Hospital director Krai Dabtham was elected because he had influence with local people, because they knew he worked hard in rural areas.

Democrat Party spokesman Ong-art Klampiboon said he was surprised Poruethai lost, because she was married to an MP and related to Thaksin.

He suggested she had lost because she didn't connect with local people.

"When a candidate doesn't really have a record of relations with the local people, she might not win," he said.

Ong-art said Poruethai's loss might not have anything to do with anti-Thaksin sentiment.

Suriyan Thongnooiat, an adviser to the Northern Farmers' Assembly, begged to differ. He said the political crisis had impacted on Poruethai's chances, saying most people didn't want to see one of Thaksin's relatives in Parliament because that would mean a return to the Thaksin regime, he said.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn

 The Nation