YPS

I did not vote for Binay , but like the independent Kiko Pangilinan, his winning ushers in a new definition of winnability.

If the analysis is true that his winning stems from a close relationship with hundreds of smaller cities and mayoralties nationwide then Binay has achieved one of the Holy Grails of national politics; nurturing a close relationship with local execs. This relationship has always been a lynch pin of those seeking a national post, not only to protect their ballots ( which is really why they cannot separate local from national elections), but from an information network point of view that assures a connectivity to the ground for a broad electoral and strategic view as well. A loyal local government network is also an essential as a future implementation network for national to local policy implementation.

I have always believed that local government officials, especially governors, have the upward scalable skill sets that a future president will need. Binay, whether intentionally or not, has broken the normally insulated and isolated small town view that local execs normally take. With his less than massive ( comparative ) spending the Binay campaign has also proven that the combination of time, long term relationship building, and a long term spread of costs ( to build relationships) is the REAL way to get around the Comelec rulings on electoral spending.

As cities become more progressive, as the internet allows for greater visibility as pockets of significant governance, as progressive governance allows for greater material prosperity and thereby relatively independence from national purse strings, I believe we will be seeing more of this local to national phenomena taking place.

Fast fading are the one time big time strategies of raising a political nobody into national prominence. The “I wrote a popular book” or “I’m a whistleblower” models have already been shown as fatally flawed and presumptuous basis for seeking national position.

The old school “you need a billion pesos just to win a senatorial seat” is also being tested and being found wanting. The public now seems wary about electing “popular” personalities and for the most part limiting their winnability to seemingly unimportant positions like, ironically, the senate.

The rules of the game for national elected positions are fast changing.

Now we are truly living in politically interesting times.