Toss-up Counties

In every election, there are toss-up counties that each side are battling for. These counties usually have almost equal supporting rate for each party's candidate

Keelung City: Keelung has always been ruled by the KMT. Of all magistrates, Hsieh Guan-yi, Lin Fan-wang, and more, all the way down to the current Chang Tong-rong, there has only been one DPP mayor: Lee Jing-yung. (Chang won re-election after Hsu Tsai-li's sudden death). Traditionally, Keelung city has a 6:4 KMT lead. But this year, things get a little different. DPP's Lin You-tsang is determined to advocate "youth" and "change" to the city people. Although he doesn't have a stable voter base, his slogans and several ads seem to attract many supporters, giving Chang a slightly harder time to lock his voter foundation. Others have slightly complained Chang for "digging roads" and "renovating streets", saying that these actions have disturbed the people. Will Chang successfully win re-electrion or will Lin bring another 4 years of DPP rule in this traditionally KMT ruled city?

Yilan County: In 2005, KMT successfully ended 16 years of DPP rule and elected its KMT Magistrate Lu Guo-hua, seeking relectrion on the 5th. According to past polls, KMT's Lu Guo-hua and DPP's challenger Lin tsong-hsien are leading each other from time to time but within 5% margins. Lu is known as "Yilan's Ma ying-jeou" and has an advantage as the current magistrate. But Lin attacked Lu by saying: out of 25 magistrate, Lu's approval rating ranks 17th. Lin also said Lu is unable to operate Yilan properly and unable to make Yilan prosper.

Hsinchu County: Originally, Hsinchu County had a 3:1 KMT lead, but after County Council Head Chang Bi-ching lost the primary in the KMT, she decided to run as an independent and was determined to win. She travelled through the county begging for support. Even current magistrate Zheng yung-jing supported her. To KMT's candidate Chiu jing-tsun, this battle is not easy at all. On DPP's side Pang Shau-Qin is hoping to win this election because of KMT's lack of uniity.

Hualien County: Hualien County had 60 years of KMT rule. But this county is now in danger. If fact, it has became a three-way election. KMT's Tu Li-hua won the primary against Fu kuen-qi, who signed up to run as a non-affliated but still rallying much support. Fu, originally a KMT legislator, is determined to build the Su Ao-Hualien Highway (Su-hua highway) because he has realized that the people need a safe way to travel, especially in times of crisis. There is also Chang Zi-ming, former deputy magistrate, vying for magistration in Hualien. Recently, Ma has been spending time in Hualien campaigning for Tu, but will his efforts pay off? No one knows until the 5th of December.

Chang hua County: In 2005, current magistrate Zuo Bo-yuan defeated DPP's Wong jing-zu. This year, both will face up against each other again. Although Zuo has the "incumbent advantage", Wong has been spending time in other positions governing Chang hua and is also a former magistrate. Ma hasn't been spending a whole lot of time here. It seems like he is confident that Zuo will win re-election. But no one knows until the 5th.

Note: This post is also in my blog for Asian Studies, even though the teacher did not require it.