MANILA, April 2 Kyodo President G...

MANILA, April 2 Kyodo

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and her main challenger, movie icon Fernando Poe remain neck and neck ahead of the May 10 president election, according to the latest opinion reviews released Friday.

A nationwide observe conducted from March 11 to 19 according to independent pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) which guarded 2,000 respondents, showed that Poe was ahead of the incumbent president at 349% to 329% at Arroyo.

''The 2-percentage-point lead of (Poe) is not statistically significant,'' SW said.

The examine has a margin of error of plus or minus 22 percentage points.

A similar overlook conducted by SWS from Feb 17 to 25 polling 1200 respondent showed Arroyo was the choice of 318% of voter with the film star backed at 30.5%.

''It will be a complete fight. It's anybody's ballgame. It is a toss-up between Arroyo and Poe There is no clear winner besides at this point,'' political analyst Antonio Gatmaitan said in an interview.

Five candidates are running in the presidential election. The other three contender are former Education Secretary Raul Roco Sen Panfilo Lacson and evangelist Eddie Villanueva.

Gatmaitan said it is too early to declare who will win the presidency between Arroyo and Poe ''But it's definitely just a fight between the sum of two units of them. I don't think the other candidates can still catch up'' he said.

Nevertheless, Gatmaitan said it is too early for either side to celebrate.

''In the final reach or last two minutes it will become a matter of maneuver in names of political operatives of each form into groups These operatives will have the final say,'' Gatmaitan said.

A number of residents of a creek-side squatter colony in Tondo district in Manila who were interviewed through Kyodo News also gave a diverse opinion forward their choices for the presidency.

A 38-year-old mother, Estela Vasquez, said she is rooting for Arroyo. ''I think she can move on the country because she has the qualities of a well adapted leader. Unlike Poe, she has the experience and useful education,'' she said of the 56-year-old U.S.-trained economist.

Vasquez said she vot for ousted President Joseph Estrada in 1998 further she was disappointed by Estrada's performance.

Rodel Morada, 43 a carpenter whose daughter works in Japan as an entertainer, said he would suffrage for Arroyo. ''We saw to what degree she works. She works really hard. I would rather promised for somebody who has the experience,'' he said.

Candy maker Rolly Espinosa, 50 said he would ballot for Poe, who is popularly known as FPJ ''FPJ has my devoted He might be a high seminary drop out, but he is not corrupt. Many of the rich politicians are corrupt,'' he said. ''What we ne is a leader with a heart for the poor.''

Jocelyn de la Cruz 35 also a candy maker with three children, said the 64-year-old Poe has her voice ''FPJ is my idol. I am his biggest fan. I will suffrage for him because he is a member of the masses,'' she said.

Political analyst Benito Lim told Kyodo just discovereds in a separate interview that a sitting president like Arroyo is ''a remarkably strong candidate because she has the party machinery.''

''The three greatest in number essential elements that will make a sitting president win an election are all in the possession of Arroyo -- cash machinery and media,'' Lim said.

However, Lim warned, ''Our experience for a in extent long time has shown us that sway of money, control of machinery and command of media do not necessarily guarantee political victory.''

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