Ma hits the campaign trail for KMT

Taichung City Mayor Jason Hu, front right, along with his supporters, gives the thumbs-up at the opening ceremony for his campaign headquarters yesterday in Taichung City which KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou attended. PHOTO: LIAO YAO-TUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) made a whirlwind tour yesterday of Penghu County, Taichung City and Hsinchu County, in an attempt to woo voters ahead of the Dec. 3 elections for mayors and county commissioners.

Ma called on voters to turn their unhappiness with the national Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government into a strong showing for the KMT.

"The DPP government disappointed people. That party will still control the central government for the next two years, but we can't let local governments fall under its power as well," Ma said yesterday morning during a ceremony to celebrate the opening of the party's Hsinchu county commissioner and councilors candidates' campaign headquarters.

Later in the afternoon, Ma lauded Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (胡志強) for changing the city for the better, at the opening of Hu's campaign re-election headquarters.

"Mayor Hu has successfully raised Taichung's international profile. I hope that Taichung citizens recognize his contributions and will choose to make the city better by voting for him," Ma said.

He also urged party members not to become complacent because of a recent United Daily News poll showing that the KMT's approval rating was higher than the DPP's. He called on all party members to work hard to win votes.

Ma was accompanied at the rally for Hu by pan-blue heavyweights including KMT Central Standing Committee member Lien Sheng-wen (連勝文), KMT Legislator Lai Shyh-bao (賴士葆) and New Party Secretary-General Lee Seng-fong (李勝峰).

Hu vowed that he would continue to dedicate his life to the city.

"Taichung City has been changing for the better, thanks to staff members in the city government. If elected, I will make the city better than Taipei City and make citizens proud of where they live," Hu said.

Besides campaigning for Hu, Ma completed another mission while in Taichung City: helping a local party member propose to his girlfriend.

Playing the "matchmaking god," Ma accompanied local party member Lao Bo-ting (廖鉑霆) to a tea house, and surprised his girlfriend of five years, Liu Yi-hsin (劉一鋅), who knew nothing about the proposal plan. The tearful girl said yes to the proposal.

Ma made the future groom promise to take care of Liu and told him the secret of a happy marriage: "The wife is never wrong."