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Senior politicians canvass votes in crucial districts

Senior politicians from both the pan-green and pan-blue camps yesterday put in a last-ditch effort to canvass support in crucial electoral battlegrounds ahead of today's elections.

With Taipei County being regarded as the most hotly contested district, pan-green luminaries including President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), Premier Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) shared a stage at a campaign rally for the DPP's Taipei County commissioner candidate, Luo Wen-chia (羅文嘉), in Banciao last night.

Over 20,000 people attended the rally and many of them were seen with teary eyes as they listened to Luo and Su' impassioned speeches.

Chen lambasted the KMT's attempts at blackening Luo's integrity.

"The KMT will go to any length to win the elections -- even using the lowest trick," Chen said. "I urge you to protect Su and Luo and give them power and faith."

Meanwhile, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), former KMT chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) made appearances at a rally in Taipei County last night to promote the KMT candidate, Chou Hsi-wei (周錫瑋).

The KMT's final campaign effort revolved around Ma's promise to resign if the KMT fails to get at least 11 candidates elected, with voters being urged to "save Taiwan, save Ma Ying-jeou and save KMT candidates."

Ma said yesterday that he has tied his fate to those of all KMT candidates.

KMT spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen (鄭麗文) said that while the party is likely to hold on to eight cities and counties that are currently under its control, it expects a tough battle in seven key areas: Taipei, Ilan, Nantou, Changhua, Yunlin and Pingtung counties and Chiayi City.

Liao Feng-teh (廖風德), head of the KMT's organization and development committee, said the Taipei County race remains unpredictable.

Meanwhile, in Chiayi City, former Chiayi mayor Chang Po-ya's (張博雅) announcement that she was withdrawing her support of the DPP's candidate, Chen Li-jen (陳麗貞), created a stir.

Chen Li-jen broke into tears and asked DPP Legislator Tsai Chi-fang (蔡啟芳) to apologize to Chang for saying that Chen Li-jen would never be re-elected without the help of the "Hsu family clan," which had apparently angered Chang.

The Hsu family has been an important local faction in the city since Chang's mother, Hsu Shih-hsien (許世賢), was elected mayor about 23 years ago.

Although Chang changed her position at the last minute, her sister Chang Wen-yin (張文英), also a former Chiayi mayor, said she still supported Chen Li-jen.

In Taoyuan County, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) campaigned yesterday for the DPP's candidate, Cheng Po-ching (鄭寶清).

She accused the KMT's Taoyuan County commissioner candidate, Chu Li-lun (朱立倫), of being too proud to show respect toward her.

"In the last four years, Chu had avoided interacting with me, although I am the country's vice president and a Taoyuan resident. I find his arrogance unbearable," Lu said.

Lu said Chu even demanded that his subordinates decline from being courteous to the president when he visited the Fuhsing Township (復興) in Taoyuan County.

"Chu will definitely jeopardize relations between the local and central government further if he keeps serving the county commissioner like this," Lu said.

She added that her recent statement that the DPP's election efforts were doomed had been a strategic pronouncement aimed at encouraging more people to vote for the DPP.

Lu said that she and the president would both take full responsibility for the results of the election.

In Keelung City, People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) yesterday insinuated that the KMT will have to fend for itself in the legislature if the PFP's mayoral candidate for Keelung City is defeated in today's elections.

PFP candidate Liu Wen-hsiung (劉文雄) is running against KMT incumbent Hsu Tsai-li (許財利) and the Taiwan Solidarity Union's Chen Chien-min (陳建銘).

Soong said that he would go into seclusion or even overseas if Liu loses.

Additional reporting by Chiu Yu-tzu, Shih Hsiu-chuan and jewel huang
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