The Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) Central Standing Committee yesterday endorsed Deputy Legislative Speaker Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) as the party’s candidate in next year’s presidential election, pending approval by the party congress next month.
Meanwhile, a poll conducted by TVBS showed Hung leading Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) if they were to compete in the presidential race on Jan. 16.
KMT Chairman and New Taipei City Mayor Eric Chu (朱立倫) said that the KMT is a democratic party with established institutions, and that Hung has met the party’s primary requirements by gaining a support rating of 46.203 percent.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
“It has manifested Hung’s efforts and all party members should work together according to common ideals and institutions to fight for victory in the presidential and legislative elections next year,” Chu said.
Hung’s nomination still requires confirmation by a KMT national congress on July 19.
Hung yesterday said she would visit Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) to secure his support.
When asked whether she would ask President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to stump for her, Hung said: “It is too early to say.”
Meanwhile, TVBS released its latest poll listing Hung, Tsai and long-time political activist Shih Ming-te (施明德) as presidential options.
According to the poll, if the presidential election were to take place tomorrow, 41 percent of respondents said they would vote for Hung, 38 percent for Tsai and 2 percent for Shih. Nearly 20 percent said they were undecided.
An analysis by electorate showed that Hung leads in the nation’s northern parts, including Taichung, Changhua and Nantou, while Tsai has more support in the south, leading in Yunlin, Chiayi, Tainan and southward.
The TVBS poll center added that support for Hung has surged after she passed the KMT primary poll — from 31 percent on June 3 to 41 percent.
Tsai’s support also increased, from 32 percent to 38 percent, the poll showed.
If the KMT nominates Wang as its candidate, 35 percent of respondents said they would vote for him, one point behind Tsai’s 36 percent.
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