Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Taipei mayoral candidate Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) yesterday brushed aside an invitation from his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) opponent, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌), to attend the KMT’s Sunday rally, and said a mayoral debate would be more meaningful.
The KMT is holding what it described as “a carnival-like” march on Sunday afternoon. The party plans to mobilize at least 40,000 members nationwide to join the rally aimed at boosting Hau’s support, but has played down the political implications of the event to attract undecided voters.
Hau yesterday invited all residents who “cared about the future of Taipei” to join the rally, adding that Su was welcome to join the event.
“We are walking for Taipei on Sunday. We welcome not only pan-blue supporters, but all Taipei residents who wish for a better Taipei to join us. Mr Su, of course, is welcome to join,” he said.
Dismissing Hau’s remarks, Su said he would “cause a sensation and steal the thunder from Mayor Hau” if he attended.
“Taipei residents would benefit more from a one-on-one mayoral debate, which would allow them to better understand a candidate’s platform and character,” he said.
Su yesterday visited a market in Beitou District (北投), shaking hands with a large crowd of vendors and residents.
Su blamed Hau for causing traffic congestion and public inconvenience with his motorcade campaigns, saying Hau should stick to his previous promise that he would not campaign using motorcades.
Hau denied ever promising not to have motorcade campaigns, and declined to comment further on the issue.
His campaign office spokesman, Fan Chiang Tai-chi (范姜泰基), said the office had arranged for motorcade campaigns starting Tuesday as a more efficient way to canvass the streets of all 12 districts.
As the election draws close, the KMT will release a TV commercial next week to promote the party’s five candidates in the special municipality elections.
KMT Secretary-General King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) said the party would focus its efforts on urging supporters to come out and vote on Nov. 27 via campaign publications, because the party would suffer from a low poll turnout.
DPP officials said its candidates would not be allowed to join any KMT rally.
“Those found in violation of this rule will be subject to disciplinary hearings,” DPP spokesperson Tsai Chi-chang (蔡其昌) said. “They will also be rebuked publicly.”
The DPP has also launched a text message campaign encouraging mobile phone users to send a message in support of DPP candidates.
Party officials said they hoped the message, which calls on voters to select one of the five DPP mayoral candidates, would go viral, asking recipients to each forward the text to 10 of their friends.
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