Heavyweights from the four major parties spent a busy final day canvassing crucial electoral battle-grounds for last-minute votes yesterday.
Former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) highlighted the significance of today's elections, saying they represent a crucial struggle to safeguard the nation's democracy. In addition, Lee said the outcome would influence the country's political and economic course for the next few decades.
Lee made the comments while addressing tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters of the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU) in a vast market place in Kaohsiung.
The event, the TSU's final campaign rally, had a party-like atmosphere. Firecrackers and music filled the air and multi-colored banners decorated the venue.
The 78-year-old Lee, who was accompanied by his wife Tzeng Wen-hui (曾文惠) and daughter Annie Lee (李安妮), reminded the crowds that Kaohsiung was the cradle of Taiwan's democratic movement in the 1970s and 1980s and that the city represents the true spirit of Taiwan.
With that historical background firmly planted in his audience's minds, Lee appealed for support for the TSU nominees. He said the party was the only one to stand firmly by the "Taiwan first" principle introduced by Lee when he was in power.
The ex-chairman of the KMT also said opposition political leaders had collaborated with Beijing.
He said that they had agreed to accept conditions made by Beijing, such as acknowledging that Taiwan is part of China and that "Taiwanese" means "Chinese."
TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (黃主文) said the party would garner more than 10 percent of the votes in the legislative election, giving it 25 seats.
Meanwhile, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) appeared at a campaign rally in Taipei County after stumping in six key locations during a frenetic last day, including Taipei City of Taichung City and his home county, Tainan. He then finished his campaign at a rally at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
In his final appeal to voters, the president appealed to them to back the 10 DPP candidates nominated for Taipei City's northern and southern constituencies.
"In order to allow me to do a better and easier job as the president for the next two and a half years, I appeal to you, my friends, to cast your votes for all of the 10 DPP candidates and let the DPP become the largest party in the legislature," he said.
The People First Party (PFP) held a mass rally last night in suburban Taipei under the banner that said "a vote for the PFP is a vote for [Chairman] James Soong (宋楚瑜)," in an eleventh-hour effort to drum up support for fellow candidates.
The party has said it will take two million votes for Soong to be awarded a seat in the legislature through the mechanism of proportional representation.
Soong told throngs of supporters he was still 200,000 ballots short on the eve of Election Day.
The polls today will mark the first popular test for the party that was formed weeks after Soong lost the presidential race last year.
Earlier in the day, the PFP leader cruised throughout the northern district of Taipei City in a fleet of trucks, asking supporters to vote for PFP standard-bearers in the constituency.
The fledgling party aims to double its seats in the lawmaking body from 19 to 40.
Lien Chan (連戰), chairman of the KMT, campaigned in Taipei County yesterday. "Don't waste a single vote; save your votes for the KMT for a guarantee of good times ahead," he said.
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