| |
| |
 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
TAINAN CITY, Taiwan : Four years ago in Tainan City, a shooting incident and two bullets were deemed to be decisive in the slim victory Taiwan's ruling DPP achieved in the 2004 election.
Thus, with three days to go before this year's presidential election, Kuomintang's presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou is making sure every vote counts.
It is hard not to be superstitious if you are Ma Ying-jeou; over the past few months, there has been talk of attempts on his life.
Thus, on Wednesday morning, it was not him but his running mate, Vincent Siew, who travelled through Tainan City to bolster support in a green stronghold.
Even the police wore bullet proof vests.
Here in President Chen Shui-bian's hometown, the news on the ground is that both Tainan City and Tainan County are still firmly in the ruling party's hands.
Professor George Tsai, Sun Yat-sen's Institute for Globalisation Studies, said, "The KMT hopes to win as much as they can in the North, but in the South - especially certain districts Tainan County, Tainan City - they must have small wins and not lose so badly, if not their wins in the North would have to cover their losses here."
And in a dramatic election campaign marked by a finance minister's resignation and KMT lawmakers stepping down from their party posts, and even declarations of suicide, the public is bating its breath for what surprise turn of events may follow.
Professor Da-chi Liao, Institute of Political Science, National Sun Yat-sen University, said, "The people will worry and pay attention to what tactics the DPP still has. It is not possible that the DPP has nothing up its sleeves."
Of course, analysts have already noted that the Tibet incident is among some unexpected recent factors that have worked in the DPP's favour.
Over at the 300-year-old Tainan Grand Matsu Temple, it is the usual hive of activity.
Huang Yin-yin has been coming to the temple diligently everyday.
She said, "I pray to Matsu to protect us and our island, so that we can elect a better leader to take care of the people."
And so in this deeply religious city with numerous temples - including the island's oldest - supporters are not leaving anything to chance. - CNA/ms
|
