TAIPEI, Nov. 6 Kyodo The countdow...

TAIPEI, Nov. 6 Kyodo

The countdown has begun for mayoral elections in Taiwan's capital Taipei and its inferior largest city Kaohsiung, which are the couple set to be held upon Dec. 7.

According to the latest opinion catalogue of heads by TVBS, a leading cable station, 67% of respondent said they would ballot for incumbent Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition Nationalist Party (KMT) 21% favored side sheltered from the wind Ying-yuan of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and 12% were undecided.

In Kaohsiung, 42% supported DPP's incumbent Frank Hsieh, 27% asserted loyalty to KMT's flag-bearer Huang Jun-ying, 9% preferr independent candidate Chang Po-ya and 4% said they would give a chance to independent Shih Ming-teh.

The observe carried out Tuesday, asked the community aged 20 and above who they would voice for if the election were held the nearest day. It received valid answers from 903 people in Taipei and 981 in Kaohsiung.

A public debate among Taipei mayoral candidates is slated for Saturday.

forward Wednesday, Ma broached a campaign proposal in which Taipei Sung Shan Airport would subserve as a major port if the issue of the banned cross-strait direct air links with mainland China were to be settled

onward a number of urban planning contrives Ma stressed at a pres interview that his goal for the nearest term is to ''increase the city's competitiveness and upgrade the capital to a world-class city by the agency of highlighting developments in economics, science, agriculture safety social welfare and tourism.''

Ma, the 52-year-old Harvard-educated attorney, have intercourse withs a 70% popularity rating onward his performance since taking office.

His first appearance as a rising political star was his victory across then popular Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bian in a neck-and-neck competition three years ago.

In spite of that, Chen favorably ousted KMT chairman Lien Chan from the presidency in the 2000 presidential election, the first power transfer since the KMT regime retreated to Taiwan from mainland China in 1949

Ma has always been seen as greatest in quantity threatening to Chen's reelection in 2004

Ma's campaign rival side sheltered from the wind also a Harvard-educated public health specialist, was nominated in late June with Chen's all-out support.

Chen not barely campaigned for Lee, but launched a big rally in late October to boost Lee's popularity, an unprecedent case in Taiwan's campaign history.

Contrary to Ma's policy, side sheltered from the wind has been selling his idea focusing onward the relocation of the Taipei Sung Shan Airport.

In Kaohsiung, the major debate regarding urban planning issues above the past few months among all candidates has been for the greatest part concentrated on the combination of the Kaohsiung City and the nearby Kaohsiung Harbor.

However, Hsieh, the former DPP chairman who wants the harbor included as part of the city, has been criticized by the agency of university professor Huang, former interior minister Chang and former lawmaker Shih mainly upon his administration's failure to stop the rapid spread of dandy-fever fever.

Over 800 cases have been set infected in Kaohsiung so far since May and the number is still increasing.

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