PM's popularity outpaces Thaksin
Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont's popularity has outpaced that of his predecessor Thaksin Shinawatra's by a wide margin while the public has condemned the ousted premier as a most disappointing politician, according to Abac Poll released Saturday.
"The anti-corruption campaign has clearly raised political awareness consolidating the anti-Thaksin group and demoralising the pro-Thaksin remnants," pollster Noppadon Kanikar said. The opinion survey was conducted between Thursday and Friday with the sampling of 1,500 respondents in Bangkok and surrounding areas. It gauged the popularity of politicians and celebrities. Asked to give the popular rating for politicians viewed in the past three months, 46.6 per cent of respondents said Surayud was on top of their list. Thaksin followed him as a distant second with 21.3 per cent. Council for National Security chairman General Sonthi Boonyaratglin ranked third with 13.9 per cent, followed by Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva with 10.2 per cent. Newly-appointed economic envoy Somkid Jatusripitak received marginalised vote on the top five popularity list. In the opposite ranking for disappointing politicians, the majority of 61.7 per cent gave a thumpdown on Thaksin. Abhisit ranked second with 9.9 per cent, followed by Sonthi (6.5 per cent, Surayud (5.9 per cent) and Democrat secretary general Suthep Thuagsuban (5.3 per cent). The Nation
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