Candidates in the Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections last night made a last-ditch effort ahead of today's crucial vote, crisscrossing streets during the day and yelling themselves hoarse at night-time rallies.
Kaohsiung City is seen by both the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) as the most crucial battle-ground.
At a mass rally with the theme of "Justice," held for DPP Kaohsiung candidate Chen Chu (
PHOTO: HUANG CHIH-YUAN, TAIPEI TIMES
Using the victory of the Taiwanese baseball team at the Asian Games on Thursday as an example, the president told those gathered at the rally to hold on until the end in order to secure victory in tomorrow's election.
"Nothing is impossible. We believe the victory will ultimately belong to us," he said, urging people to cast their ballots for Chen Chu.
Chen Shui-bian also promised the attendees that the central government would do its best to help Kaohsiung win the right to host the International University Games in 2011.
PHOTO: CNA
DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun took the stage and said many people had been misled by pan-blue politicians' attempts to discredit the DPP, but he urged those present to firmly believe in the party.
Other DPP heavyweights including Premier Su Tseng-chang (
Vice President Annette Lu (
In a public address given while campaigning for Chen Chu at Kao-hsiung's Sanfong Central Street earlier yesterday, President Chen continued urging pan-green supporters to vote for the DPP's candidate.
KAOHSIUNG RACE
"I'm very worried that Kaohsiung will become `Chinese Kaohsiung' after [today's] election," the president said, urging Kaohsiung residents to think about Kaohsiung's progress and the efforts Hsieh had made for the city.
The crux of the election, the president said, was to prevent Kaohsiung from backsliding.
He then joined DPP heavyweights such as Su and Yu and hundreds of supporters in a parade from Sanmin Park to Chen Chu's campaign headquarters in a show of respect for the Kaohsiung administration's efforts for the city.
The KMT's Kaohsiung mayoral candidate Huang Chun-ying (黃俊英) also held a rally last night, with KMT Chairman and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and a number of KMT legislators taking the stage urging voters to support the "professional and clean Huang."
With "Opposing Corruption" as the theme of the rally, Ma slammed the DPP, calling on voters to "expel the corrupt DPP and the DPP government from the city."
JASON HU'S APPEAL
An emotional clip of Taichung Mayor Jason Hu (
Hu and his wife Shaw Hsiao-ling (
"Huang and his wife are so kind. They have spent a lot of time visiting us in hospital despite the fact he was busy with his campaign," Hu said in the video, asking Kao-hsiung residents "to vote for a good person."
After spending part of the morning yesterday in Kaohsiung campaigning for Huang, Ma flew back to Taipei to stump for the KMT's Taipei mayoral candidate Hau Lung-bin (
Rounding off months of Taipei mayoral election campaigning with a day-long motorcade tour and large rally on the final day, KMT heavyweights poured onto the stage urging Taipei residents "to spurn the corrupt DPP."
KMT RALLY
Under deafening din of drums and firecrackers, thousands of supporters waved Hau's campaign flags chanting "Elect Hau Lung-bin!" while Ma and Hau pressed a button to light up a Taiwan-shape icon placed on the center of the stage, pledging to win the mayoral election with integrity.
Speaking at the rally titled "Justice and Integrity -- win back Taiwan," Ma led top city officials in endorsing Hau as he lashed out at the DPP government for failing to increase Taiwan's competitiveness.
"Both Taiwan and Kaohsiung's competitiveness are going backwards ? Hau's rival cared about nothing but Hau's utility bills and did nothing but spread rumors. Do we want this kind of mayor for Taipei?" Ma called out to supporters at Songshan Tobacco Factory.
Condemning Hsieh for carrying out a smear campaign against Hau, Ma said that he expected Hau to continue with his municipal policies in Taipei, and expressed his hope that the party would win the Kaohsiung mayoral election as well.
"It's time for Kaohsiung to have a new mayor and political party," he said.
Ma later the rally at the halfway point to head to Kaohsiung to stump for Huang, former KMT chairman Lien Chan (
"Let Hau Lung-bin and Huang Chun-ying hit home runs in the elections and create new opportunities for Taipei and Kaohsiung ? After the 319 shooting fraud, our voters won't be easily fooled by the DPP," Lien said.
The KMT has defined the Taipei and Kaohsiung elections as a "vote of confidence" in Ma's integrity and a vote of no-confidence in President Chen's alleged involvement in corruption scandals.
Hau's competitors in the KMT primary, including former Taipei deputy mayor Yeh Ching-chuan (葉金川), Legislator John Chiang (蔣孝嚴) and Ting Shou-chung (丁守中), also showed up to endorse the candidate.
Prior to last night's rally, Ma and Wang took turns to accompany Hau in a whirlwind campaign drive through several districts including Datong and Zhongshan, where the DPP enjoyed more support.
Ma declined to comment on his plans for the party if the KMT loses both the Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections.
"What matters most is how to win the elections, rather than what we should do if we lose," he said.
Most polls released before the pre-election ban on publishing poll results showed Hau as enjoying a steady lead with more than 40 percent support. The KMT, however, has tried to prevent Soong from peeling votes away from its candidate and has been concerned about a low voter turnout today.
"Many pan-blue supporters may decide not to vote because of Hau's high support rate in the polls. We are very worried about this," said Pan Chia-sen (潘家森), head of the KMT's Taipei City chapter.
There are about 2 million eligible voters in Taipei, according to the Taipei Municipal Election Committee.
At the rally held last night in Yuanshan Park near the Zhongshan Stadium, acting Kaohsiung mayor Yeh Chu-lan (
Hsieh's efforts in Kaohsiung "have already been affirmed by the people," Yeh said. "But, ask yourselves this: KMT Chairman Ma has been the mayor for eight years, and what has he done for us?"
Vice Premier Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) endorsed Hsieh by criticizing Ma's performance.
"The destruction of Chiencheng Circle was something that made me sad and hit me hard," Tsai said. "I used to go there with my parents when I was a child. But Ma decided to tear it down and took away my childhood dreams."
She said that Hau's plans to hire the same staff members at the city government if he wins the election concerned her the most.
"I totally believe in his [Hsieh] ability. If he becomes the mayor of Taipei, Tamsui River can be clean within two years," Wu said.
Around 8:30pm, Presidential Office Deputy Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) announced that President Chen's son Chen Chih-chung (陳致中) had arrived at the scene. Chen Chih-chung simply asked people to vote for Hsieh.
"I only came to show my support for Hsieh. ... Nobody asked me to come," he said.
Prior to the rally, there were rumors that New York Yankee pitcher Wang Chien-ming (
"Wang told me in person that he supported my idea to host the 2020 Olympic Games in Taipei and said that he would come to support me," Hsieh said. "I told him not to come because I do not want him to become a target for political tug of war since he has nothing to do with politics."
Independent candidate Clara Chou (周玉蔻) had planned to protest against Hsieh at the rally but said she changed her mind because she had received "a reliable tip from the police that the Hsieh's headquarters would launch an attack on her by throwing rocks."
People First Party Chairman James Soong (
"Your votes for me will show that only capable and earnest political figures like me can win voters' hearts," he said. "My victory will warn all the politicians in Taiwan and prove that campaign tricks are useless."
Earlier in the day, PFP Legislator Liu Wen-hsiung (
"Whatever can make a difference, we are willing to do for him," Liu said.
Reporting by Mo Yan-chih, Flora Wang, Jimmy Chuang and Rich Chang
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