Last weekend, former president Lee Teng-hui (
Counting on the popularity of the pan-green camp in Yunlin, Chuayi and Tainan -- three counties in which President Chen Shui-bian (
PHOTO: HONG RUEI-CHIN, TAIPEI TIMES
TSU Secretary-General Lin Chih-chia (
"[Former] president Lee plays a key role in mobilizing the supporters of the TSU and catalyzing a Taiwan-centric national identification," Lin said. "Our campaign greatly improved and gained stronger momentum because of Lee, and we predict that the TSU could win at least 25 seats and hope it is possible for the pan-green camp to gain the majority in the legislature."
Lee enjoys a great deal of popularity and respect in central and southern Taiwan, and many TSU supporters call him "the founding father of Taiwan." Despite the hot weather in central Taiwan, the campaign rallies that Lee attended attracted numerous voters who participated in and were preoccupied with Lee's speeches at the rallies.
Owing to Lee's influence and charisma, some TSU candidates in Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan who were suffering from a lack of publicity and were close to being removed from the ballot gradually went back on the safe list, Lin said.
Thus far, here is the overall campaign situation for the TSU:
Yunlin County
The TSU legislative candidate, incumbent councilwoman Yin Lin-in (
Yin is trying to highlight her integrity, drawing a contrast between her and her opponent, Chang Li-shan (
Although Yin is now in the leading group in recent polls, Yin said that she was worried that the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) vote-buying tactics will cause her to lose the election. But she says she will continue her campaign to the last minute, no matter what the poll numbers say.
Chiayi County and Chiayi City
Ho Chia-jung (何嘉榮), a former DPP Chiayi County commissioner, was nominated by the TSU in Chiayi County, although he failed in the previous legislative elections as a DPP candidate. Although Ho is on the election list according to recent polls, he is threatened by other pan-blue camp candidates, as Ho is not an incumbent legislator.
The TSU candidate for Chiayi City, Ling Tzu-chu (
Tainan City and Tainan County
Tseng Hsing-chau (
The TSU's candidate in Tainan County, Legislator Chien Lin Hui-chien, (
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