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KMT candidates play down chances

Amid conjecture that Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) would turn down an offer to form a presidential ticket with former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), alternative candidates for the position yesterday adopted a low profile.

KMT Secretary-General Wu Den-yih (吳敦義), rumored to be one of Ma's possible running mates, said that Wang was still Ma's "top choice." Wu denied that he was a contingency vice-presidential candidate, saying that there were many other people in the party to be considered.

"I don't get the feeling that Ma has started to look for another running mate, as Wang is still the only one choice in Ma's mind," Wu said.

VICE PRESIDENT

KMT Legislator Lee Jih-Chu (李紀珠) also refuted media speculation that she was on the shortlist for vice president.

"I think there is still a great chance of forming a `Ma-Wang ticket.' We should not consider alternatives until that combination is no longer an option," Lee said.

"Wang has said that he would make a decision that is most beneficial to the party, and that decision should be to accept the `Ma-Wang ticket,'" she said.

Wang on Saturday publicly discussed his views on the vice-presidential ticket for the first time since Ma formally offered it to him on May 9.

Wang said that he would rather speak of "Ma-Wang cooperation" instead of a "Ma-Wang ticket," because it effectively communicated their shared goal of helping the party win next year's presidential election.

Wang's remarks were interpreted by some KMT lawmakers as meaning he would turn down Ma's offer.

After returning from Malaysia last night, Wang told reporters waiting at the airport that he had had no time to think about the matter during his two-day trip.

Before leaving for Malaysia on Sunday, Wang had said that he would give everyone a definite answer to Ma's offer by the end of this month in line with Ma's request.
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