TAIPEI (TVBS News) — With the 2024 presidential election in Taiwan just 17 days away, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are actively campaigning, organizing numerous rallies and closely matching their support levels.
Meanwhile, Taiwan People's Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je has adopted unorthodox strategies as polls show minimal gains since the TPP's separation from the KMT-DPP alliance on Nov. 23. The four-year-old TPP, with fewer resources than the established KMT and DPP, faces the challenge of making a breakthrough in this competitive environment.
Ko, addressing these challenges, said on Dec. 19, "Honestly, I don't know what does 'atypical election' mean. What I do know is our election costs less. 'Typical election,' by definition, is to spend tons of billions to have a chance at winning."
Ko emphasized the need for innovation by less-resourced parties, questioning the efficacy of traditional campaign methods against well-funded rivals. The TPP's strategy focuses on youth-driven rallies, street speeches, and innovative social media campaigns.
From Dec. 7, Ko began streaming on his YouTube channel "KP TV" for extended hours daily, enhancing online visibility. Huang Kuo-chang, the party's legislator-at-large nominee, exemplified this approach by raising NT＄14 million on social media through a unique fundraising campaign.
Vicky Chen, Ko's campaign office spokesperson, highlighted the TPP's comprehensive policies compared to fragmented approaches of competitors Lai Ching-te and Hou Yu-ih.
She noted TPP's engagement with students on campuses, a move later emulated by other parties, and emphasized the TPP's commitment to economical campaigning to avoid political corruption.
However, experts caution about the effectiveness of online presence in translating to votes. Niu Tse-hsun, a professor at the Chinese Culture University, pointed out TPP's lack of ground events compared to KMT and DPP.
As the presidential debate approaches, Ko will face KMT's Hou and DPP's Lai, with polls, momentum, and campaign strategies being key factors for Taiwanese voters.