if we look at the PE2011 as case study, maybe the white sect has a slight advantage in multi-cornered fights, but that doesnt guarantee that the people havent learnt from past events.
assuming after nomination day, we have a multi-cornered fight, comprising of; PAP, WP, SDP, RP & 2 independant candidates. it is quite obvious that voters are inclined to look at party backed candidates more than independant candidates. simply because 1 man show is proven unsustainable in todays context, let alone politics.
then, some voters will look at party heritage & credentials, which makes it favorable for the PAP & WP. there will also be some who r receptive towards different colors for a change, SDP & RP.
there will be those that are more political savvy that will psycho analyse, disect each candidate, read & scrutinize the party manifestos etc. but wait, does the incumbent really have a manifesto, or is it going to be the usual flier of ambiguous fictional forecasts?
if tested & proven is the incumbent's trump card that they harp about for the past decades, think again, their candidate is a noob that hasnt clocked even his 1st trimester with the party.
will he protect the interest of his countrymen/residents and tell his party leaders to drop the idea of 6mio population, stop talking about subsidies, but making things genuinely affordable, such as; public housing, education, healthcare, ample placing for school enrolment, job placements that pay sustainable salaries and not pittance... etc?
i doubt a noob has balls of steel to do so.