Teodoro--RP's New Obama?

Barack Obama is now the official Democratic presidential candidate, besting White America's finest, Hillary Clinton. This is phenomenal considering that, four years ago, Obama was a relative unknown. What's the secret of Obama's campaign?

First, Obama's handlers avoided the tendency of traditional politics by giving the campaign some "inspiring" taglines. That's genius. Most Americans are depressed due to the high costs of food and fuel. They need someone who'll inspire them with the vibrancy of youth and new ideas. Obama represented that. He was packaged as the Black version of JFK (John F. Kennedy), armed with wit and a serious mien. His words are always emotion-driven. You'll see and hear his inspiring words on traditional and new media.

That campaign was based on lessons in political history. In US history, men of such character emerge whenever America encounters extreme depression, such as what's happening now. Western societies need men of substance whenever they face tremendous socio-economic challenges. Obama filled that void.

Now, can we produce our own Obama? Yes. We already did.

In the 2004 elections, a veritable unknown in the person of Senator Antonio Trillianes IV emerged as one of the top senatorial winners. He did not campaign. His handlers used the internet as his launching pad. He did not use any traditional method of campaigning, just a few posters and stickers here and there. However, the electorate heard of him through traditional media, what with his digs at Gloria. The people loved it and voted for him, a vote which some political analysts say is a vote of anger against the prevailing dispensation.

However, is it possible for Trillianes to campaign for the presidency using non-traditional tactics? That's possible. With more than 13 million Filipinos going online daily, that's a huge constituency. The internet is the most cost-effective tool in launching any brand or product or even electoral campaigns.

There's a catch though. Trillianes is a realist and would probably think twice before dipping his fingers in the presidential pool. if Trillianes is not interested, then, who could possibly be his alternate?

I'll give my Singdollars to anybody who'll oppose Gilbert Teodoro, our defense secretary. Of all the candidates out there, Teodoro is the singular person who can probably inspire us and rouse us from mediocracy and apathy.

Teodoro is young, has a vision for the country and has that electrifying personality. He's one of the most hard-working members of Gloria's mafia gang. Reason why people in the civil society hesitate to go full-blast against Gloria is the fact that some well-meaning people continue to work their asses off and that includes Teodoro. Teodoro is a stark contrast to the likes of Agriculture secretary Arthur Yap or Energy secretary Reyes, who are publicity-hungry without concrete accomplishments. Teodoro exemplifies an Obama and has the potential of getting the people's nod come election time.

I believe that early campaigners such as Loren, Mar, Cheez, Villar and Noli will eventually neutralize themselves. They will turn irrelevant, leading the way for Teodoro to shine.

If the same tactics employed by Trillianes in getting the senate post be applied to Teodoro, there's a strong chance for him to win. Some people think that he does not have the physical strength to go on a national campaign since he has asthma or some respiratory ailment. To hell with it. Teodoro can always sit in his chair and ponder on solutions to national issues while his campaigners dominate the discussion sphere thru traditional and new media. You'll be surprised at the results.