But, while the party has its policy types working in the backrooms to kick out the agendas – in the middle of a national campaign – there's also got to
be someone in the basement, shoveling money. It's no secret that politics is a big money business – heck! – even the third party, the BPP says it needs
half a million dollars to run a bare bones national campaign. So, for sure, the mainstream parties need at least ten times that to do politics on a
mass party scale. That's no easy feat – raising 5 million dollars or more in just five weeks – and in the PUP – since the mid 90's - that job of chief
fundraiser has fallen to the National Campaign Manager. Except, right now in the PUP, there is none – the post was vacated when Godfrey Smith was given
his walking papers after the Dangriga bye election in July. And, like nature, politics abhors a vacuum – and, so, we are told - that into this breech
has stepped Ralph Fonseca as the de-facto campaign manager. Now, indeed there's a lot of propaganda about this issue – but, beyond that, there are also
credible reports of his re-appearance, and, in practical terms, it wouldn't be a stretch since Fonseca held and defined the post during the PUP's glory
days. But current PUP Leader Francis Fonseca bristled when we asked him about it on Sunday:
Daniel Ortiz
"Only about" 25, 24 days away from the election, have you all filled the post of national campaign manager, is there anyone? "
Francis Fonseca - PUP, Party Leader
"We have our structure in place."
Daniel Ortiz
"Multiple reports to us, reliable are saying that the de-facto campaign manager is Mr. Ralph Fonseca. We have to ask you, is that accurate at all?"
Francis Fonseca - PUP, Party Leader
"No not at all, absolutely wrong."
Daniel Ortiz
"Who do you all have?"
Francis Fonseca - PUP, Party Leader
"Who is the UDP campaign manager?"
Daniel Ortiz
"No idea."
Francis Fonseca - PUP, Party Leader
"Alright."
Today, UDP Party Chairman Alberto August told us that the chief campaigner is the Party Leader, which means that this responsibility falls to Dean
Barrow. August told us that Barrow is assisted by the Chairman, and then each constituency has their own campaign managing personnel.
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