Eyes turn to pan-blue's 2004 bid

With the Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral campaign over, the biggest issue facing the pan-blue camp is how the KMT and the PFP will cooperate in the 2004 presidential elections.

Although post-election talks slated for today between KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) have been postponed, experts are wondering if Lien and Soong can resolve their differences in time to decide who will run for president and who will serve as the political sidekick.

According to PFP spokesman Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀), the KMT on Saturday requested the postponement of the talks. KMT Secretary-General Lin Fong-cheng (林豐正) said yesterday that he is certain the talks will be held before the end of this month.

Judging by his narrow defeat by Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) in the 2000 presidential election, Soong is the one more capable of leading the ticket in 2004.

However, given the PFP's performance in the Taipei and Kaohsiung city councilor elections on Saturday, some pundits are saying that Soong might have lost some of his political sheen.

"The PFP did not do well in the [Taipei and Kaohsiung] city councilor elections," said Kao Yuang-kuang (高永光), professor of administration management at National Chengchi University. "Judging from that, it is going to hurt Soong's overall political influence."

Out of the 17 candidates nominated by the PFP in Taipei City, only eight made it to the elected list, with the party taking 17.5 percent of the vote. The KMT won 20 seats with 32 percent of the vote, while in Kaohsiung, the PFP took seven seats, compared to the KMT's 12.

Kao also referred to the KMT's success in retaining the Taipei City mayoralty, staying as the biggest party in the Taipei City Council and coming a close second in the Kaohsiung mayoral race.

Kao said that not only did the KMT do well in Saturday's elections, but Lien also managed to boost his own image.

"Lien has performed well in rallying for his party comrades," said Kao, citing a recent media poll which suggested that, in comparison to Chen, Soong and former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), Lien had received the highest approval rating from poll respondents for his campaigning efforts this time around.

Lien has long been perceived by many as a politician who is overly rigid and who uses insipid and dull campaign language.

"[But] I see Lien has started to let his charisma and distinguishing characteristics shine through [when addressing crowds]" Kao said.

Echoing Kao's remarks, Ger Yeong-kuang (葛永光), professor at the Political Science Department of the National Taiwan University, questioned Soong's political capability to lead the unified ticket together with Lien in the next presidential election.

"Evidently, the KMT is the biggest opposition party while the PFP appears to lack the strength to play a pivotal role in the election," Ger told the Taipei Times, adding that the KMT had more talented politicians while the PFP didn't even come up with a nominee of its own for the Taipei mayoral race.

"Judging from that, plus Lien's improved performance in the field of public speaking, I would say Soong's political capability is being diminished and this makes it crucial for him to get appointed to lead the joint ticket [in the 2004 presidential race]."

KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖) said that the results of the Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections had given the KMT a bit of its old glory after the party lost badly in the 2000 presidential election and the legislative elections last year.