Chen stumps for Hsieh in south

To strengthen the re-election campaign of Kaohsiung City Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷), President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday urged the city's residents to vote for Hsieh in order to maintain the DPP's hold over southern Taiwan.

Chen, Hsieh and high-ranking DPP officials visited residential areas in Kaohsiung to canvass for votes. Enthusiastic local residents welcomed them, asking to shake their hands and take pictures with them.

At a shrine to Guan Gong, a figure in a historical novel who has become the embodiment of valor and righteousness, Chen prayed that the god would bless the party.

In response to the pan-blue camp's bid to cooperate in support of KMT candidate Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英), Chen reminded residents of what he said were the KMT's unfulfilled promises.

Last week, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) threw his support behind Huang after attempts to agree with the KMT on a joint candidate failed.

Chen said that the former KMT-controlled city government that preceded Hsieh had failed to offer residents good-quality tap water. However, Chen said, Hsieh had solved the problem.

"Why do Kaohsiung residents this time want to be second-class citizens fooled by them [the pan-blue parties]?" Chen said.

Hsieh's re-election would further ensure the development of the city, the president said.

Hsieh urged residents to ignore recent attempts by his opponents to blacken his name.

"This is a Kaohsiung mayoral election rather than a skirmish of the 2004 presidential election," Hsieh said.

Meanwhile, Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) yesterday spent the day in Kaohsiung to promote the TSU's city councilor candidates. Lee will reportedly campaign for Hsieh later this week.

KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) is scheduled to visit Kaohsiung on Friday, the eve of the election, to campaign for Huang.

The confrontation between the Hsieh and Huang intensified yesterday morning during a televised debate.

Both Huang and Hsieh focused on alleged impropriety involving the Kaohsiung Ammonium Sulfate Co.

Hsieh has accused Huang, formerly a vice mayor of the city, of being involved in approving a plan for the former site of the company days before he left office that allowed corrupt politicians to siphon off public funds. Huang claims the corruption was a result of Hsieh's governance.

"Anyone found involved in the scandal should withdraw from the election immediately," Hsieh said.

Huang said that he would drop out of the race immediately if it was found he had done anything wrong.

"I can't quite agree with the behavior of Hsieh's camp, which has deliberately blackened my name," Huang said.

Independent candidate Chang Po-ya (張博雅), a former interior minister, said yesterday that the abilities of her two opponents to become embroiled in scandal was nearly equal.

Chang urged residents to shun candidates from major parties because they were all tainted by corruption.

Independent candidate Shih Ming-te (施明德) criticized the way the other candidates had conducted the election campaign, saying it was too low-class.

Shih said that the recent behavior of political parties and their candidates had brought shame on the election.

"I refuse to stand with them on the same stage [any more]. I despise all of you," Shih told the other candidates at the televised debate.

Shih, a former DPP chairman, said he would stay in the election and urged voters to examine the other candidates' political wisdom.