ELECTION 2024/KMT calls on Ko supporters to vote strategically and prevent DPP presidency

Taipei, Jan. 6 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate and New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) returned to the city on Saturday as part of his campaign trail, urging Taiwan People's Party supporters to vote for him and prevent the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from retaining power.

Hou and KMT vice presidential candidate Jaw Shau-kong (趙少康) canvassed in Taipei and New Taipei in a campaign motorcade on Saturday before attending a major campaign event in New Taipei's Xinzhuang District and another one in Taoyuan on Saturday night.

During the canvassing, Hou called on opposition supporters to support "the strongest opposition" in order to unseat the ruling DPP.

In Taoyuan, former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜), who tops the KMT's legislator-at-large list, told the audience that it is highly likely the difference between the KMT ticket and DPP ticket will be less than 100,000 votes.

"Supporting Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) [of the Taiwan People's Party] is not a question of good or bad, but one of winning or losing," Han said.

He referred to the presidential election in 2004 in which former DPP President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) won by about 29,000 votes against then-KMT presidential candidate Lien Chan (連戰).

Ko's election campaign might be making a lot of noise, "but he won't win," Han said, urging Ko's supporters to vote for Hou instead.

The former Kaohsiung mayor also made an emotional appeal to Hon Hai founder Terry Gou (郭台銘), calling on him to "transform from a successful entrepreneur into a great patriot."

Gou should not be absent in this important fight to defend the Republic of China, Han said.

In his remarks, Hou repeated his refrain from recent campaign events, promising a coalition government composed of professionals and talented individuals from all parties.