A former chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Dr. Obed Asamoah is warning the party not to underestimate the influence of former President Rawlings ahead of the 2012 polls. He says the poor performance by President Rawlings’ wife in the just ended presidential primary of the NDC is not an indication that he is no longer popular or influential. In an interview with Joy News' Sammy Darko, Dr. Asamoah stated that if the number of delegates had been expanded, the Rawlingses would have done better. “I believe that we should not underestimate their influence because giving, perhaps, the contest of a larger electoral college, they probably would have done better,” he said. He said former President Rawlings is still very popular and any attempt to relegate them to the background could spell doom for the NDC in 2012. He noted that "efforts should be made to mollify him and to get him on board and I don’t believe that it will be helpful for President Mills’ people or himself to gloat over the result.” Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana