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Poll shows both candidates benefited from debate

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) yesterday said that he was not surprised his approval rating had risen following Sunday's first presidential debate.

"Through the debate, I believe voters realize that I am consistent in my position, while Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) is not," he said.

Hsieh made the remarks in response to reporters' questions concerning a poll in yesterday's Chinese-language China Times. The poll claimed the popularity of Hsieh and Ma had both increased after the debate.

The poll indicated that the popularity of Hsieh and his running mate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) stood at 23 percent, a 1 percent increase from the last poll. The Ma-Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) ticket enjoyed a 2 percent increase at 49 percent.

Hsieh said he was "excited" to have the opportunity to counter Ma's smear campaign against his aides during the debate. Ma questioned the integrity of Hsieh's aides involved in corruption charges, asking Hsieh if he should be held responsible.

Hsieh said that Ma should see himself as the nation's first presidential candidate to be indicted for graft.

Hsieh said he did not have as much campaign funding to spend on expensive advertisements throwing mud, but during the debate he reminded the public that Ma, who was indicted for graft, kept on criticizing other people in similar situations.

Hsieh again criticized Ma's "633" economic policy, saying it will only lead to bankruptcy, inflation and tax hikes.

"The people will give Ma a blank check by electing him, but he has not clearly explained his policy," he said.

Hsieh said Ma's policy was not well thought out because Ma first proposed "623" and then changed it to "633."

Ma's proposal of investing NT$4 trillion (US$128 billion) in 12 infrastructure projects is unreasonable, Hsieh said, because each household is estimated to shoulder NT$400,000 in debt, or NT$110,000 for each individual.

Hsieh continued to press Ma on his green card status, asking Ma to apologize if evidence proves that his US permanent residency was still valid before Jan. 27.

Additional reporting by Flora Wang
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