Dec. 1 elections: Chen calls for united front

Though he didn't mention him by name, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), campaigning yesterday in Tainan City, urged incumbent Mayor George Chang (張燦鍙) to put aside his personal differences with DPP candidate Hsu Tain-tsair (許添財) and fully support Hsu's bid.

"Now that [you have] no chance [to seek re-election], let's not waste votes," Chen told a campaign rally packed with tens of thousands of enthusiastic supporters last night.

"Let bygones be bygones. Let's all act in a democratic manner and unite as a whole to help Hsu get elected," Chen said, asking supporters to vote against KMT mayoral and legislative candidates in the city.

Hsu beat Chang in the party's April primary elections and acquired his mayoral candidacy. However, Chang, who is facing corruption charges, has decided to run as an independent candidate which will siphon off votes for the DPP.

Chen also praised late presidential advisor Lee Cheng-yuan (李鎮源) for his contributions to the country. Chen said that Lee, a Tainan native who he called the father of Taiwan, had helped all Taiwanese earn absolute freedom of speech and pushed forward Taiwan's World Health Organization bids for the past five years.

Following Chen's pitch, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) voiced her support for Hsu at the same rally, assuring the public that Hsu would be a capable head for the local government.

Earlier yesterday afternoon, Lu arrived in nearby Tainan County in an effort to sooth the discord between incumbent County Commissioner Mark Chen (陳唐山) and DPP candidate Su Huan-chih (蘇煥智).

Pressed by other DPP legislative candidates, Su and Mark Chen shook hands publicly at yesterday's events when greeted by Lu, signifying their mutual willingness to make peace.

Chen, who has served in the county government for two terms, will not compete against Su but many observers have said that whether Chen supports Su will have a decisive influence on the election outcome.