Soong throws his weight behind alliance candidate

People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), , yesterday threw his weight behind Wang Chien-shien (王建火宣), who is running for Taipei County commissioner under the banner of the opposition alliance.

Responding to calls for unity among the opposition camps, Soong touted Wang as a man of high moral principles and ability, who, he added, if elected, would be a compassionate administrator.

It was the first time the PFP leader has openly campaigned for Wang to show that he, like KMT counterpart Lien Chan (連戰), also supported the candidate in words and deed.

"It takes more than experience and industry to be a good commissioner," Soong said during a visit to Wang's campaign headquarters in Panchiao. "What is more important is a loving heart. I have always admired Wang for his continence and genuine concern for the needy."

Incumbent commissioner Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) has painted the challenger as a carpetbagger who lived in Taipei City all his life and moved his residence to the county four months ago in order to qualify for the election.

Soong said he remembered having lunch with Wang years ago when Wang expressed his outrage over a news story about sexual assault.

"I was deeply moved by his outpouring of sympathy for the rape victim, who was unrelated to him," Soong said. "A person of compassion would be a caring administrator, if elected."

The Wang campaign has hotly courted Soong, as the former provincial governor pulled in more than 810,000 votes in the county during last year's presidential race, out-polling all other presidential contenders.

"It took a quality financial team to raise the annual per capita income in Taiwan from US$50 to US$10,000 in previous decades," Soong said. "As a former finance minister, Wang helped achieve the economic miracle. Today, the county can use his financial know-how in the course of healing its economic woes."

With a long career in finance, Wang has centered his campaign around economic issues and pegged the elections as a confidence vote in President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) administration.

Wang said he understands that the PFP, which came into being two years ago, is incapable of providing him with a satisfactory level of personnel support or financial aid.

But he said he believes Soong could greatly boost his election chances by urging the PFP's leaders many supporters in the county to cast their votes for him on Dec. 1.

PFP Deputy Secretary-General Chin Chin-sheng (秦金生), who accompanied Soong said that over 80 percent of all party supporters have rallied behind Wang's bid.

Still, Wang is facing an uphill struggle to unseat Su, whom polls show enjoys extensive support among the county's residents.