First lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青) assumed a larger role in her husband’s re-election campaign, as President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) camp yesterday released its latest campaign commercial, which features her dedication to charity work during the past three years.
The commercial shows Chow interacting with children at various charity events she has attended, while promoting Ma’s education policies aimed at building a “happy paradise” for the nation’s youth.
Ma’s campaign office spokesperson Lee Chia-fei (李佳霏) said the focus of the video, which includes pictures and video clips of Chow visiting developing countries with civic groups as well as her trips throughout Taiwan, highlights the first lady’s continuous attention to educating young people.
Photo: CNA
“Children are the focus of this commercial and the first lady is devoted to improving the learning environment for our children. Her dedication reflects the president’s efforts to create a wonderful future for the next generation,” Lee said at Ma’s campaign headquarters.
The commercial reflects the Ma team’s efforts to highlight the first lady in the final stages of the presidential campaign.
Chow, 59, is seen as a trump card by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), given her popularity among pan-blue voters, and KMT legislators and supporters have been calling for her participation in the campaign to help boost Ma’s momentum.
She began campaigning for her husband earlier this month, visiting local markets and canvassing the streets in central and southern parts of the country. She will join Ma at the New Year’s Eve countdown party in Taipei on Saturday night and the flag-rising ceremony in front of the Presidential Office on Sunday.
According to Ma’s camp, the first lady will start a nationwide campaign trip next week, beginning in northern cities, while the president is scheduled to continue his campaign tour in the south.
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