Independent presidential contender Terry Gou (郭台銘) yesterday started a signature drive nationwide in his bid to gather at least 289,667 backers by Nov. 2 and secure a place on the ballot as a presidential candidate.
The signature collection sites are in Taipei, New Taipei City, Yilan County, Taichung, Miaoli County, Changhua County, Nantou County, Yunlin County, Chiayi County and Pingtung County, the Hon Hai Precision Industry Co founder announced via social media on Tuesday.
Ever since Gou declared his independent presidential candidacy, his popularity has consistently lagged behind the other three candidates — New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜), Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and Vice President William Lai (賴清德), who chairs the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
According to an opinion poll by online media firm Formosa conducted from Wednesday last week to Friday, when Gou announced his running mate, Lai was in the lead with 35.2 percent of support.
The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate Hou followed with 20 percent and Ko had 17.5 percent. Gou had 10.3 percent.
Another poll by the online media outlet CNEWS had Lai in the lead with 28 percent, followed by Ko with 22.6 percent.
Meanwhile, Hou garnered 16.3 percent, and Gou had 13.7 percent of the vote.
Gou, despite his significant stake in Hon Hai, the multibillion company he founded that earns most of its revenue from assets in China, said last month that he would not give in when asked how he would respond as a national leader if Chinese authorities applied pressure on him.
The announcement regarding whether Gou has garnered enough signatures would be made by Nov. 14, the Central Election Commission said.
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