Pollster and Managing Editor of the Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson says he does not think former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings will be able to lead the National Democratic Congress to victory in the 2012 general elections. Mrs. Rawlings during the week resigned her position as Vice Chairperson of the NDC to contest President Mills in the party’s July congress. Her decision to resign from her post to contest the incumbent President Mills has led to party executives from nine out of the ten regions publicly declaring their support for President Mills. But speaking on Multi TV’s current affairs programme PM Express, Mr. Ephson said Mrs. Rawlings will have to surmount the party’s congress first. According to him, “the two main parties realise that they have to rely on floating voters beyond their core voters to win the elections. So the delegates will have to embark on a suicide mission to battle the NPP propaganda of husband go, wife come.” “Granted that the NDC delegates decide to take that gamble at the national level, there is enough evidence to show – not that Mrs. Rawlings is not qualified, not that she is not capable – but there is a certain trend in this country that makes us believe that even if she crosses the NDC congress level it’s going to be difficult.” He noted that President Mills’ poor performance in the Central region in the 2000 elections was due to the fact that people believed in the perception that former President Rawlings would have an undue influence on him. According to Mr. Ephson Daily Dispatch newspaper started monitoring and assessing the chances of the former first lady’s rumoured presidential ambition in September last year. He said on October 16, 2010, the Daily Dispatch published a story with the headline “NDC to lose elections with Konadu as flag-bearer”. This publication he said was heavily criticised as a concocted story aimed at setting up the former first lady for public insult. “But I believe we had credible evidence to that effect. And I think even today, [from] the calls and reactions we’ve had, I think that she will not lead the NDC to victory.” “I’m wondering what will make them think that the floating voters will accept that after 18 years of her husband, they will want her to come back,” he said, adding that President Mills suffered defeat in the 2000 and 2004 elections because of perceptions that the former president would unduly influence him. Mr. Ephson however said the NDC could emerge from congress as a unit depending on “how the campaign will be done. It depends on how whoever loses will take the defeat, because if the person takes it very personal and decides that 'I will mix sand with gari', it is going to be very tight for the NDC”. “The next three months after the congress will determine whether the NDC has finished pressing the self-destruct button or they’ve grown stronger. So by October, this year, we should have a fair idea as to their chances in next year’s elections” he added. Story by:Smart Nii Akrofi-Abbey/Multi TV/Ghana