DPP poll has little reference value: Han Kuo-yu

Taipei, June 13 (CNA) A recent opinion poll conducted by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which showed President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) with a lead over all other potential 2020 presidential candidates, has little reference value, one of the opposition contenders said Thursday.

Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) of the opposition Kuomintang said the poll was conducted June 10-12 during the DPP's presidential primary, and that a more accurate one could be obtained later when people would be less emotional.

During the period of the DPP primary, supporters of the green camp were waiting for phone calls by surveyors, unlike independent voters or those in the blue camp, he told reporters on the sidelines of a graduation ceremony in Kaohsiung.

The green camp refers to the pan-green coalition in Taiwan, which favors independence over unification with China, while the blue camp refers to those people who prefer to maintain their Chinese identity rather than a separate Taiwanese one.

Han said the poll may be significant to the DPP in its presidential primary process but has little reference value for him.

The DPP survey, which was commissioned to five different polling companies, showed Tsai with an average public support rate of 35.67 percent, nearly 8.2 percentage points ahead of her sole challenger in the party's primary, former Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

The poll also indicated that Tsai has an even wider lead over other potential contenders, including Han and independent Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲).

In a city council hearing Thursday, Ko declined to comment on the DPP poll, when asked by a city councilor to do so.

"It was just a survey," Ko said. "It is not relevant to us, and I don't want to talk about it."

On the question of whether he planned to throw his hat into the ring after his poor showing in the DPP poll, Ko said he would decide in due time.

When asked if he had a message for Tsai, he said she should "keep going."