The re-election campaign of Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) was boosted yesterday by a double dose of praise from President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) while the pan-blue camp did its best to prop up KMT candidate Huang Jun-ying (黃俊英).
The DPP campaign rally, carrying the theme "Kaohsiung, don't look back," attracted thousands of DPP and TSU supporters late night to Hsieh's election headquarters.
Hsieh's camp intends to use the theme to remind supporters of the time when the city was under the control of the KMT, urging voters to not make an election U-turn.
At the rally, both Lee and Chen stressed that Taiwan's democratic movement originated in Kaohsiung.
Chen said Hsieh's re-election was important because the mayor had devoted himself to the cause of democracy since the Kaohsiung Incident in 1979.
Both Hsieh and Chen served as defense counsels for the accused during the KMT democracy crackdown.
Chen praised Hsieh for reforming municipal affairs over the last four years, adding that Kaohsiung had been moving forward since Hsieh took over.
"To keep Kaohsiung moving, let's vote Hsieh," Chen said.
Chen said that cooperation between central government and local authorities was essential and Hsieh's re-election this year, and his own re-election in 2004, would ensure good relations between the two.
Chen also condemned Hsieh's political opponents, who he claimed are running a campaign to blacken the mayor's name.
"It's unethical and unfair," said Chen, urging voters to resist rumors denouncing Hsieh.
Chen also urged supporters to make five phone calls apiece before the election to promote Hsieh.
Before Chen's speech, Lee was welcomed by an enthusiastic crowd at the rally.
Lee said his 12-year term of office aimed to reform democracy in Taiwan, resulting in the peaceful transition of power in 2000.
Lee urged the public not to listen to opposition parties or the pro-unification media, which spread rumors about a split between himself and the president.
"My support of Chen will not be influenced by anything," Lee said.
Lee said that Hsieh was a diligent political figure capable of intelligent thinking.
Hsieh's ideas about community-based development and plans to promote Kaohsiung as an "oceanic capital" demonstrated his extraordinary vision, said Lee.
Hsieh said earlier that his ploy to seek help from presidents both past and present was to maintain election fairness since the pan-blue camp insisted on upgrading the local mayoral election to a preliminary skirmish for the 2004 presidential race.
Hsieh said that his opponents were deliberately trying to derail his re-election bid, and he urged the electorate to vote with their courage, wisdom and sense of justice
"If we spurn political figures who are good at blackening others, then future elections will be free from all this mudslinging," Hsieh said.
Premier Yu Shyi-kun, DPP Secretary-General Chang Chun-hsiung (
Meanwhile, KMT candidate Huang received support from both the KMT and the PFP.
KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) showed up at Huang's campaign rally with his wife, Lien Fang-yu (連方瑀), to show the party's backing. Former Kaohsiung mayor Wu Den-yi (吳敦義) also went along to support Huang.
Yesterday, PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), who last week came out in support of Huang, said DPP rule has resulted in economic recession, political disturbance and high unemployment.
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