Candidates turn to print, electronic media to campaign<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post
\nJakarta\/Surabaya\/Makassar<\/p>\n
Confronted with a limited campaign period and the vast expanse of
\nthe country, candidates of the Sept. 20 runoff have decided to
\nturn to print and electronic media to lure voters.<\/p>\n
Photographs of Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Hasyim
\nMuzadi, as well as those of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and running
\nmate Jusuf Kalla, have been prominent in national newspapers and
\ntelevision broadcasts since the campaign period officially kicked
\noff on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Under the Presidential Elections Law, election runoff
\ncandidates are given only three days to organize indoor
\ncampaigns, during which they are to explain their programs and
\npolicies to the voting public.<\/p>\n
However, Megawati and Susilo have both chosen to stay put in
\nJakarta, leaving their campaign teams to do the leg work across
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the two have booked extended TV spots and taken out
\nhuge space in newspapers for election ads, with both candidates
\nclaiming to be the right choice to run the country for the next
\nfive years.<\/p>\n
Virtually all Jakarta TV stations are airing campaign ads from
\nboth sides every half-hour, and the overkill has been alleviated
\nsomewhat by the few versions available: The Megawati-Hasyim team
\nhas offered at least three versions, as has the Susilo-Kalla
\nteam.<\/p>\n
Several newspapers have carried full-page pictures of the
\ncandidates, which has certainly benefited the media as additional
\nadvertorial income.<\/p>\n
The campaign restrictions imposed by the General Elections
\nCommission (KPU) have not left much space for other alternatives:
\nNo outdoor rallies are allowed during the three-day period, huge
\nmass gatherings are also out of question and the candidates are
\nobliged to comply with the KPU-organized dialog for three
\nconsecutive nights.<\/p>\n
The dialog seemed like a question-and-answer panel session on
\nthe first day of the campaign period, with Megawati and Susilo
\nappearing at separate times before panelists they had hand-
\npicked.<\/p>\n
On the second day, Megawati spent her morning among hundreds
\nof street singers, who vowed to campaign for her across Greater
\nJakarta, and received 40 regional representatives from several
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Megawati was scheduled to launch a program
\nto clear coastal areas in Ancol, North Jakarta, but the incumbent
\ndecided not to attend the event, citing unforeseen circumstances.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, challenger Susilo received representatives of
\nDemocratic Party chapters across Sumatra, after Megawati's
\nsister, Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, canceled a planned meeting due
\nto asthma and Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengkubuwono X rescheduled his
\nmeeting for Thursday.<\/p>\n
It is not known whether Rachmawati will be available to meet
\nat a later date because of her health condition.<\/p>\n
Also on Wednesday, a group of activists claiming to be
\n\"guardians of reform\" declared their support for Susilo in a
\nrally.<\/p>\n
Attending the event were dozens of student activists who had
\nfought for reform in 1998 and several noted figures, including
\nlawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, businessman Sofyan Wanandi, former
\nfinance minister Fuad Bawazier, former trade minister Rizal
\nRamli, Partnership Governance Reform chairman H.S. Dillon and a
\nformer student activist of the Bandung Institute of Technology,
\nDjumhur Hidayat.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, neither camp took advantage of the allotted time
\nto hold indoor campaigns, and instead held interactive dialogs at
\nstate-owned RRI radio station and TVRI.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, United Development Party (PPP) chairman and
\nincumbent Vice President Hamzah Haz told Nahdlatul Ulama (NU)
\nfollowers to vote for the Megawati-Hasyim pair.<\/p>\n
Hasyim is the current NU leader, but is suspended from his
\nposition during the campaigns.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, the Prosperous Justice Party
\n(PKS) distributed flowers and drew up a petition of support for
\nSusilo-Kalla.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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