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DPP candidates secure nominations in a tough battle

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) finalized its nominations for legislators in the northern Taipei constituency with the conclusion of a public opinion poll yesterday.

The competitive area saw nine contestants battle for five nomination slots. The nominations were decided with party member votes counting for 30 percentof the decision and public opinion polls counting for 70 percent.

The five candidates who will be nominated are Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴), Lin Chung-mo (林重謨), Taipei City Councilor Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇), former Taipei City Councilor Kao Chien-chih (高建智) and former director of the DPP communications department, Phoenix Cheng (鄭運鵬).

The northern Taipei constituency consists of six districts -- Shihlin, Peitou, Sungshan, Hsinyi, Neihu and Nankang.

Among the five, Hsiao received the highest score in the opinion poll, with a support rate of 30.27 percent, followed by Cheng with 14.79 percent, Lin 14.11 percent, Hsu 11.14 percent and Kao 9.81 percent.

The competition for the nominations was intense, and was marked by fighting over factional endoresments

Cheng, who used to be a protege of Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) -- the leader of the Welfare State Alliance (福利國系) -- failed to win Hsieh's support in the primary. Hsieh chose to support the other two members of the faction: Hsu and Kao.

Without the backing of the faction, Cheng scored poorly in the party member vote.

But he did well in the public opinion poll and this secured his nomination.

He also won support from Justice Alliance Legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄), who stumped for Cheng in a TV commercial.

The New Tide Faction also suffered a setback in the northern Taipei constituency as Taipei City Legislator Lee Chien-chang (李建昌) was crowded out from the five safest nomination slots, finishing at No. 6.

The northern Taipei constituency will elect 10 legislators, and pan-blue competition is fierce, as many candidates in the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and People First Party have signed up for their parties' primaries as well.
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