DPP heavyweights assembled in Yunlin County yesterday in a show of strength -- part of an intensifying campaign for the upcoming county commissioner by-election -- while maintaining that its candidate, Lin Chung-li (
Most importantly, they say, Lin's popularity in the post-earthquake climate has outpaced independent candidate Chang Jung-wei (
According to the latest opinion poll conducted by Global TV and the Journalist magazine, the DPP's Lin leads with about 19 percent support, while KMT candidate Chang Cheng-hsiung (
DPP leaders said yesterday that this and other recent polls held after the 921 quake reveal that the DPP has an excellent opportunity to win local administrative power in a place they have never won before.
"The quake damaged public construction, and residents are blaming it on the KMT," said one official.
"The independent, Chang, apparently lost key support in mountainous townships such as Touliu (
Kuo said he believed some of Chang's supporters have shifted to the DPP's Lin in those townships. But, he said, the DPP still regards Chang as the party's main rival.
"We have only increased our support among constituents who did not necessarily vote along party lines in the past. And Chang's support organizations have not disappeared," he said.
Kuo was part of a group of party officials who had begun working in Yunlin even before the Sept. 21 earthquake, campaigning against so-called "black gold" politics -- the abuse of power by corrupt officials -- and for a "shift in power to rescue Yunlin."
Central party leaders also arrived in Yunlin County yesterday to campaign for Lin. They began by holding their weekly Central Standing Committee meeting in Touliu and a mass campaign rally in Peikang (
Party chairman Lin I-hsiung (
"We attribute this to the KMT because it has stayed in power too long to cut the connections between local factions and gangsters," Lin said.
"Therefore, the Yunlin County by-election can be an historical symbol of Taiwan's democratic development if residents can elect an opposition commissioner," he said.
Chen Shui-bian (
"Residents in Yunlin should not be cheated again. Lin Chung-li is the only opportunity to lead Yunlin County toward the 21st century," he said.
As to the strategy of the DPP's campaign in the coming two weeks before the Nov. 6 vote, Lee Ying-yuan (李應元), the DPP's current legislative caucus leader, who was born in Yunlin, said the DPP still had to get the word out about Lin's achievements during his official career, as well as his platform of "terminating black gold."
"Chang Jun-wei still maintains a predominant position in those townships near the coast and in the central part of the county," Lee said.
In addition, two years ago in the election for commissioner, Chang nearly won, although some polls at that time placed him third, about six or seven percent behind the runner up.
Moreover, half of local residents polled did not name a choice -- those "who may be waiting for a candidate to offer a better price for their votes," DPP director Kuo added.
"We face a hard battle but are confident of winning," he said.
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