The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)’s nominee for next year’s presidential election will be announced today at noon, drawing to an end a short and relatively conflict-free primary campaign.
The seals are expected to come off the tightly guarded poll results in the morning, and party officials will carefully comb over the 15,000 completed surveys used to decide between frontrunners Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Both candidates have delivered consistent and well-fought campaigns that have offered few hints, right until the last moment, as to who will end up taking the polls that match each candidate against President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).
Photo: Tsai Pai-ling, Taipei Times
Party observers expect the numbers to be close, reflecting what other non-official surveys have constantly shown in the run-up the official DPP nationwide polls. The results are expected to be released at 1pm at the latest.
Sources from both campaigns that were present at the official polling centers last night have called the results trickling in “too close to call” and a “50-50” split in voters that support Tsai or Su over Ma, who is seeking re-election.
The third DPP hopeful, Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良), who has admitted his chances are slim, is expected to trail the two by a wide margin.
In a final effort before the polls closed last night, Tsai and Su concentrated on swaying voters in the nation’s two most populous municipalities, Taipei and New Taipei City (新北市), where they spoke about their credentials.
Both also pleaded with supporters to stay home and vote in evening polls.
Visiting a cake factory for the disabled, Tsai sought to identify herself with the DPP that she heads, contending that she would lead Taiwan with the same conviction she has used to spearhead the DPP’s resurgence over the past three years.
“In the three years since I was elected party chairperson, my sole belief has been to bravely embrace [my] destiny,” she said. “[My] hard work will pay off … regardless of the difficulties.”
Meanwhile, Su canvassed the streets for votes in the morning in New Taipei City, his traditional bastion of support. He was twice elected commissioner when the city was known as Taipei County.
He was greeted by calls of “Su Tseng-chang for president” from dozens of supporters.
Once the results are announced, “tomorrow will be a new day for Taiwan to reclaim its self-confidence,” he said.
“Let’s let this country find its confidence and [its] dreams today,” he told supporters.
The 15,000 official telephone poll results were carried late last night by security guards and DPP officials back to party headquarters, where they were to be kept under lock and key. The seals are expected to be broken at 10:30am.
The final decision will be based on the candidate that edges Ma out in the comparative polling. The candidate with the highest percentage of support will be chosen, regardless of the winning margin. If all the candidates trail Ma, the one with the highest rating, irrespective of margin, would be selected.
The focus is expected to turn to a vice presidential nomination and the chances for reconciliation between the candidates after the results are announced. Su has ruled out running for vice president, although Tsai has not commented.
Tsai has said that any remarks on the issue would be premature, but Su has said he would be a “volunteer for Taiwan” if Tsai wins.
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