The DPP has tapped Lee Ying-yuan (
Lee, 49, will face off against a formidable incumbent, the KMT's Ma Ying-jeou (
After obtaining the go-ahead from President Chen Shui-bian (
The Central Executive Committee is expected to approve Lee's nomination at its next meeting on Tuesday.
The DPP candidate yesterday expressed his gratitude to the party for choosing him, telling reporters he expects to have a "gentlemen's race" with Ma.
"It'll be a tough fight, because I score poorly in various opinion polls," Lee said. "But I consider myself to be an upbeat person and I'll do my best to fight."
Premier Yu Shyi-kun yesterday said it was only with reluctance that he is allowing Lee to leave his Cabinet post.
"Although I'd like to keep him here in the Cabinet, I shouldn't be too selfish by keeping him only for myself," Yu said. "I'll respect the party's decision and Lee's personal wishes."
The premier yesterday said he wouldn't start thinking about Lee's replacement until his nomination becomes final.
Ma, an avid jogger, welcomed Lee into the running yesterday and likened the contest to a race.
"Any election in a democratic society is like a race, in which runners try their best to win," Ma said.
"I welcome Lee in joining the race to serve Taipei's citizens."
Michael You (
"Hong expressed a lack of interest in running in the past few weeks when we contacted him," You said.
As for Shen, the DPP didn't want to lose a legislator, even though it's the largest party in the legislature, You said.
"We would really hate to, and cannot afford, to lose any lawmaker in the legislature, because every lawmaker counts since we don't hold an absolute majority," he said.
Though Lee doesn't come from Taipei, You said Lee's professional experience and educational background would be more important factors to voters.
Lee was born and raised in Yunlin County. Ma, on other hand, was born in Hong Kong and raised in Taipei City.
Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰), a DPP lawmaker and another member of the campaign team, agreed that Lee's roots in Yunlin County wouldn't be a problem.
"If Taipei citizens can accept Ma and Chen as city mayor, both of whom are not from Taipei, I believe they can accept Lee, too," Cho said.
Luo Wen-jia (
"He's the kind of guy who is enthusiastic, aggressive and sanguine and you can easily make friends with him," Luo said.
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