By Fel V. Maragay

It?s almost a foregone conclusion that she will join the 2010 presidential race.

But talk that Senator Loren Legarda would declare her presidential bid yesterday? coinciding with her 49th birthday did not materialize.

?It?s very clear that I am ready. But it will be insensitive of us to be announcing our political plans in the midst of an economic crisis,? Legarda told Standard Today before attending the Senate session.

Last week, another presidential hopeful, Senator Mar Roxas II, issued a similar statement that he was prepared for the challenges of leading the country but stopped short of proclaiming himself a candidate.

Roxas is the only prospective presidential bet of the Liberal Party of which he is national president. In the case of Legarda, she has a rival?Senator Francis Escudero?for the presidential nomination of the Nationalist People?s Coalition led by business tycoon Eduardo ?Danding? Cojuangco.

Both Legarda and Escudero are rating high in presidential preference surveys. And it looks like their rankings in the surveys will be a decisive factor on who should be the standard-bearer and who should slide down to the vice presidential slot of the NPC.

Legarda, who topped the l998 and 2007 senatorial race but lost the 2004 vice presidential derby, said her final decision on whether to run for president hinges on the sentiment and support of the people.

?If the clamor of the people is there, who am I to shirk this call?? she said.

Legarda said it?s quite difficult to set a definite date for announcing her presidential aspiration. When asked if is true that she was consulting her astrologer about this, she said: ?We should look at all things. We should look at the stars.?