By Fel V. Maragay

If the presidential elections were held today, four names would emerge contesting a tight race, according to surveys.

One survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed Vice President Noli de Castro and Senator Francis Escudero taking the top two slots in a field of six contenders.

Another survey, that of Pulso ng Pilipino in tandem with Data Advisors, had Senators Manuel Villar and Loren Legarda leading the pack.

?If the May 2010 elections were conducted now, it would be a very close race, with the four probable candidates enjoying nearly the same overall voter preferences,? said Pulse Asia in its analysis of its Feb. 2 to 15 survey.

Pulse Asia said De Castro posted a decline in percentage points at 19 percent. Escudero, who turns 40 in October, had a rating of 17 percent. Former President Joseph Estrada had 16 percent, and Villar, 15 percent.

Legarda notched 12 percent, while Senator Mar Roxas had 8 percent.

In the Pulso ng Pilipino survey, Villar obtained 17 percent; Legarda, 16 percent; and De Castro, 15 percent. This technically means they are statistically tied for the number one slot, the pollsters say.

Other presidential timbers rated in the Pulso survey were Escudero (12 percent), Estrada (10 percent), Senator Panfilo Lacson (8 percent), Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando (6 percent), Roxas (6 percent), Senator Richard Gordon (4 percent), and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay (2 percent).

Ilocos Norte Rep. Bongbong Marcos, Bro. Eddie Villanueva and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro were tied with all of them scoring a similar 1-percent rating.