Heather Robinson

Many of us have memories of our mothers taking our temperature to find out if we had a fever. This was done not with a thermometer, but by simply placing her forehead against ours. The method was never wrong.

Politicians use various methods to determine political popularity. Polling is the scientific method that is used to determine who is ahead at a particular point in time. This method has many supporters and opponents, depending on the outcome from thesample that was taken. Media houses conduct polls to inform the country on party standings, and many persons believe in these polls while there are others who publicly state that the pollster is a 'fraud'.

Developing political plans

Political parties also utilise polling to help to inform them in developing political plans and strategies. But these can be very expensive, and do not always provide the type of detail that is required to determine election day plans. Parties therefore rely more on the canvass that is conducted by its workers, who walk door to door interviewing each elector. If conducted properly and honestly, the canvass can provide a more accurate prediction of the electoral outcome.

Public meetings and motorcades are also methods that parties use to judge popularity, and historically have proven to be the most unreliable. But both serve useful purposes. They give loyal and faithful members and supporters an opportunity to show publicly their enthusiasm, commitment and love for their party. These are also great social occasions that provide opportunities for persons to share ideas, and eat and drink together. At times, too, one gets the impression that there is a competition among women. The 'best dressed competition' is apparent in every community as each woman tries to outdo the other in the use of the T-shirt given to them by their candidate.

During the normal daily work of the candidate, there are other methods that are used to take the political temperature. The number of times persons stop to express support, or just to touch, are also simple but important indicators. The response of children to the candidate is very interesting, and when children call you by your first name only, that is an excellent sign. When they literally line up to meet a leader, and take turns in sitting on his/her lap, reveal just how much these children feel connected to the leader. There is never coercion; the children have to love the leader in order to show this love.

Insecure politicians sometimes do stupid things. Some believe that strength is demonstrated by sending a group of 20 to stand at a corner shouting political slogans during a motorcade of the other party. When later a banner is burnt with the image of the party leader and candidate, one can only wonder just how far back into our past some candidates are willing to return. Perhaps timewould be better spent teaching women in the constituency how best to cherish, nurture and protect their husbands and men. But then, some old dogs cannot be taught, or be asked to teach, new tricks.

There are also some candidates who believe that they must present themselves in their opponent's stronghold at the same time their opponent is present. Jamaica's politics might have progressed much, but there are some communities that find this type of behaviour repulsive, and residents will, in these situations, express themselves in words that cannot be printed. Candidates who have things in their past that are not nice should refrain from placing themselves in positions where men find their presence threatening.

The various methods of seeking to know the political temperature are varied, yes, but the ultimate and most accurate test will be done on election day.