Dr Saine, thanks once again for writing an interesting analysis of the past Presidential elections. I am in agreement with you in the overall thrust of your analysis regarding the process, the issues, the personalities and all but one of your conclusions. I don't think your apparent conclusion that the PPP adversely affected the prospects of the coalition atleast in the minds of the voters is supported by any conclusive evidence. On the contrary, in U.R.D where the coalition won all but one of the districts, the efforts of former PPP politicians like Omar Sey were crucial in making the Opposition win even more decisively. It is certainly true that the PPP politicians have lost some of their clout with the electorate especially in the greater Banjul area where time and changing demographics pose a challenge for even O.J who once controlled a formidable machinery in his district. If you look at Nuimi and Saloum in which two former PPP politicians namely Landing Jallow Sonko and Amulaye Janneh used to win confortably , neither man could deliver in this last election. That points to the fickle nature of an electorate perpetually inclined to support whoever is in power rather than a sudden dissatisfaction with politicians they supported for years . The elections were determined primarily by fear successfully peddled by the government coupled with electoral fraud and cash inducements. It worked and we have an illegitimate government to show for it. Karamba <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>> To view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html To contact the List Management, please send an e-mail to: [log in to unmask] <<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>//\\<<//\\>>