KMT, PFP looking to 2004

Although the next presidential poll is still two years away, the issue of who will carry the hopes and aspirations of opposition parties in the race is already consuming much of their attention.

PFP heavyweight Kao Tsu-min (高資敏) yesterday proposed broad-ening PFP Chairman James Soong's (宋楚瑜) support base in the south to secure his victory in the 2004 presidential poll.

Citing the fact that in the 2000 race, Soong was popular in northern Taiwan while receiving relatively less support in the south, Kao reasoned that such a plan is necessary.

While Soong has not announced his candidacy, it is widely believed that he will make a second presidential bid in 2004.

The PFP chairman would not confirm whether he has made a decision yesterday, saying it is still premature to discuss the issue.

Soong did say, however, that the PFP would seize any opportunity to serve the people and that substantive discussions on the next presidential election have not yet begun.

As for Kao's proposal, Soong said that the PFP not only needs to consolidate support in the south, but should do so in every part of Taiwan.

"We must win the support of mainstream public opinion, rather than engage in a showdown between the `pan-blue' and `pan-green' camps or partaking in a north-south confrontation," Soong said.

Soong has been busy traveling the country of late, visiting supporters in Matsu, Taitung, Ilan, Taichung, Keelung and Taoyuan over the past month. The trips are seen as his initial steps on the 2004 presidential campaign trail.

In light of what appears to be early PFP planning, a number of pro-localization KMT lawmakers yesterday pushed their leader, KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰), to specify as soon as possible if he has any intention to run for the presidency in 2004, so that the party has sufficient time to prepare for the campaign.

When asked about the question just two weeks ago, Lien responded only indirectly, saying that the party had "a wealth of talent." This remark was interpreted as a hint that he would not join the race.

The lawmakers, led by Shyu Jong-shyong (徐中雄), chief of the Generation-E alliance (e世代問政聯盟), said Legislative Yuan speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) would be a suitable candidate for the presidency if Lien doesn't run.

According to Justin Huang (黃健庭), another member of the alliance, the KMT's supporters are very worried about planning for the next presidential race, because it has thusfar been unable to decide on a candidate.

Wang, however, yesterday reit-erated that he is not interested in and has no intention to run in 2004.