Published on Taipei Times
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/01/22/2003092269

Chen to take it easy while Lien campaigns in South

DIFFERENT PRIORITIES: The president has very few engagements over the next few days, while his pan-blue opponents will hit the campaign trail

CNA, TAIPEI
Thursday, Jan 22, 2004, Page 2

President Chen Shui-bian (³¯¤ô«ó) and Vice President Annette Lu (§f¨q½¬) took a rare break from their busy re-election campaign schedule yesterday on Lunar New Year's Eve, which marks the start of a week-long national holiday.

Chen and Lu toured a traditional market in Taipei's Wanhua district early in the morning to extend Lunar New Year greetings to vendors.

Later in the day, Chen and Lu visited the Neihu Flower Market in suburban Taipei where they received a warm welcome from floral retailers and shoppers.

Chen didn't arrange any public appearances for the rest of the day. Chen will spend New Year's eve with his family.

As is custom, Chen will return to his hometown in the southern Taiwan county of Tainan today.

Chen will also host a luncheon in honor of townsfolks today and meet with his old classmates.

Tomorrow, Chen will have a family reunion with his daughter, daughter-in-law and his grandson at his official residence in Taipei.

On Saturday, Chen will visit several temples in Taipei City, an orphanage and a farm that encourages tourists to visit in Taoyuan County as well as Chiang Kai-shek International Airport to show his concern for airport staff.

The pan-blue camp, however, will barely pause in campaigning for the close-run presidential election.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (³s¾Ô) and People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (§º·¡·ì) will not rest during the holiday, which began yesterday and will run until Monday, to garner greater grassroots support in the face of robust competition.

Today, Lien will call at a famous temple in downtown Taipei to pray for success in his election bid and to seek public support. He will tour Taoyuan County near Taipei on Friday.

The KMT chairman will travel to central Taichung and Changhua counties on Sunday and Monday to take part in campaign activities.

In essence, Lien will rest only on Friday and he will devote the rest of the time during the holiday to campaigning.

As the pan-blue alliance ticket has relatively weak support in southern Taiwan, Lien traveled to Tainan county, his hometown, on Tuesday to solicit votes.