The televised platform presentations delivered by the presidential candidates were pro-forma events that will have little influence over the campaign, political observers said yesterday.
Without cross-examination by other contenders, some said the televised platform presentation, in essence, is no different from campaign rally speeches.
"All the presidential candidates are just playing along with the regulations. Each candidate repeated what they've said before. I doubt they will generate dramatic change in the current campaign landscape," said Wu Nan-jen (吳乃仁), leader of the DPP's New Trend faction.
Moreover, Wu said that with more than 70 percent of voters having already made up their mind to cast their ballots for specific candidates, unless breaking events trigger a change, the presentations will merely reinforce the voters' image of contenders.
Spencer Yang (
"Without the verbal battle between the candidates, there will be nothing to make the show worth watching," Yang said.
"Unlike the televised platform presentation," Yang said, "a televised presidential debate, in comparison, could easily expose each candidate's qualities and weaknesses."
Analysts did concede, however, that the candidates' remarks helped by bringing each contender into the spotlight on TV presenting their platforms ahead of the March 18 presidential election.
Soong furiously slammed both the KMT and the DPP as corrupt and having lost the ability to govern the country during his televised platform presentation, while KMT presidential hopeful Lien Chan (
"Both Lien and Chen are the top dogs in the current presidential landscape. Though Lien trails in many polls, he still preserves organizational predominance. And while Chen is short of organizational power, that gap could be made up with a lead position in polls," Wu said.
In contrast, Wu said, independent presidential candidate James Soong (
"I think Soong will confront great difficulties in creating new issues and expanding his support base," Wu said.
Yang pointed out that as an independent presidential candidate, however, Soong failed to represent a clear position on major issues.
In particular, Yang said that by not establishing any strong policy stance, Soong's support had dropped in the aftermath of revelations of controversial financial dealings last December.
"Apart from his industrious image created during his tenure as Taiwan Provincial Governor, Soong has not yet shaped his own campaign brand since he declared his intention to run last July," Yang said.
"Soong likes to say that Taiwan needs change. But, he has not shown his supporters the direction of change and the methods to implement the reform," Yang said.
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