TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's ruling party, legislator Hsu Chih-chieh declared himself the strongest candidate for Kaohsiung's mayoral primary Monday (Nov. 10). Hsu claims he can defeat opposition KMT legislator Ko Chih-en in tight races as the DPP launches primary registration with coordination teams to engage potential candidates in discussions.
Mirror Media reports New Tide faction, a powerful DPP political group, approached legislators Lai Jui-lung and Hsu last month to discuss campaign integration without concrete results. Hsu acknowledges integration talks while claiming superior chances against opposition KMT candidate Ko Chih-en compared to rival Lai, citing polls within statistical margin of error ranges.
Hsu's office claims widespread media recognition as Kaohsiung's consensus mayoral candidate with acknowledgment from opposition KMT party representatives. Multiple DPP legislators including rival Lai Jui-lung, Lin Tai-hua, Chiu Yi-ying and representatives from various party factions attended Hsu's campaign headquarters launch, demonstrating broad internal party support despite primary competition.
Hsu's office cites recent polling data showing consistent top-tier rankings with statistical differences within margin of error ranges across multiple surveys. Despite entering the mayoral race later than established competitors, Hsu's campaign describes his rapid polling rise as resembling a snowball effect that could secure decisive leadership at crucial campaign moments. ◼