Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (
"If today were election day, the DPP's Chen-Lu presidential ticket could garner about 53 to 54 percent of the vote in the eight counties and municipalities in southern Taiwan," Hsieh said.
He made the remark Wednesday night in a meeting with the media in Kaohsiung.
PHOTO: CNA
He said the Chen-Lu ticket could get 57 percent of the vote in Tainan -- Chen's hometown -- and 53 percent of the vote in other areas in the south.
Southern Taiwan has long been viewed as a DPP stronghold. The party believes it must stage a strong performance in the south if it is to overcome losses in the north.
In the presidential election in 2000, in which the vote was split three ways, Chen saw about 47 percent support in the south.
PHOTO: CNA
With Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) joining forces with People First Party Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) in this year's election, however, Chen faces a two-way race. He will have to boost his support compared with the 2000 poll if he is to win.
Hsieh said support in Chiayi County has been increasing due to the consolidation of local factions, as has support in Kaohsiung City and Pingtung County.
For his own constituency of Kaohsiung City, Hsieh said his goal is 55 percent of the vote for Chen -- a 10 percent increase over Chen's performance in 2000.
As for Kaohsiung County, Hsieh was less optimistic, noting it is the base of KMT heavyweight Wang Jin-pyng (
Hsieh said if the DPP wants to use the high support rate in the south to offset the loss of votes in northern Taiwan, it must perform well in the central jurisdictions of Taichung City, Taichung County, Changhua County and Nantou County.
"The eight southern electoral districts must outperform their six counterparts in northern Taiwan. And if the north and south are tied, it means the DPP can't lose in central Taiwan," Hsieh said.
He said the party has gradually gained support in central Taiwan due to the establishment of the science-based industrial park in Taichung last year. Hsieh added that support from former Taichung mayor Chang Wen-ying (
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