Jakarta – Mr Jusuf Kalla, front runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's running mate, said his camp was not worried about the manoeuvres of political leaders to form coalitions.
He asserted that meeting voters at the grassroots level was of more strategic value than talking to politicians who claim to have a huge support base.
Incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri, who is likely to square off with Mr Bambang in September's run-off poll, has been busy canvassing for support from politicians outside her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
Golkar is a key target for the President. But Mr Jusuf doubted that its supporters could all be instructed to vote for her.
"We are not concerned about it because a coalition among parties will not be able to bring 100 per cent of their supporters," he told reporters after a meeting with businessmen in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Mr Bambang has said that he would seek a coalition partner only after he wins the second round of the presidential election. He leads the first round with 33.6 per cent of the vote, followed by Ms Megawati with 26.3 per cent.
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjun, however, said his party's network across the country could be used to help win the presidency. He said Golkar garnered 24.4 million votes in the April 5 legislative election and that its presidential candidate Wiranto had received around 23 million votes so far. "It clearly shows that our political machine works," said Mr Akbar.
Meanwhile, Ms Megawati skipped her weekly meeting with the leaders of PDI-P to receive several politicians at her private residence in Kebagusan, South Jakarta, on Tuesday. She received the Reform Star Party (PBR) chairman Zainuddin M.Z., who supported Dr Amien Rais in the July 5 election.
"If we wish to uphold civil supremacy we will go with Megawati, but if we want change – although we do not know what kind of change – then Bambang," the well-known Muslim preacher said after the meeting.
On the same day, Ms Megawati's running mate Hasyim Muzadi held a series of meetings with several leaders of major organisations and the media in Semarang, Central Java. He visited the provincial offices of the PDI-P, the United Development Party, the National Awakening Party, the Indonesian Ulema Council and the head office of Suara Merdeka daily.
But political analyst Andi Mallarangeng said coalitions among the political elite would not influence voting in the run-off. "The masses no longer relate to the political elite. People will make their own choices in the election," he said.