Six months of election slogans, campaign signs and street rallies came to an end yesterday as both candidates made one last pitch to voters as to why they should be the soon-to-be Sinbei City’s first mayor.
In his final push in the tightly contested race, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Eric Chu (朱立倫) spoke to voters alongside President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) and other senior government and party officials in Banciao (板橋), the seat of the county government.
“I promise to work hard and do my best for Sinbei City,” Chu told the crowd, which numbered in the thousands and filled Banciao Stadium. “I am prepared to happily spend the next four years fighting alongside our residents.”
During a 10 minute speech, the president appeared to distance himself from local issues, but suggested that a vote for Chu would mean the continuation of his administration’s policies, which he said had contributed to record economic growth this year.
“I hope that everyone will come out to vote and when you go home tonight, please help us gain at least 10 more votes [for Chu],” Ma said to the cheering crowd.
Chu’s schedule also included an appearance at a smaller election rally in Sinjhuang (新莊), as well as street canvassing in the two traditional pan-green strongholds of Lujhou (蘆洲) and Sanchong (三重).
Sanchong and Banciao were also where the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) focused its last efforts, holding two large rallies staffed by bands and singers to shore up support for their candidate, DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文).
Lacking official endorsements, the rallies included DPP county commissioners and emphasized the party’s record in local governance.
Repeating her campaign slogan, Tsai told the tens of thousands gathered in front of the county government building that if elected, she would bring Sinbei residents, “happiness and pride.”
“I can see that this venue is not big enough for the crowd, but after traveling around Sinbei City, meeting with many people and shaking many hands I realized that … this is a city we all need to work hard for,”she said to supporters.
During her 15 minute speech, she said she wanted to return Sinbei City to its “golden days” under a DPP administration.
The close vicinity of the two final rallies, which were less than 200m apart from each other, had initially heightened concern of a possible clash between KMT and DPP supporters. Taipei County police say that about 800 police officers and barricades were deployed.
Both camps in the tightly fought elections are hoping to take a large share of undecided voters, a voting bloc that will likely make or break their election campaigns.
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