Ko Chih-en's temple rally draws thousands, sparking 'wind of change' claims amid mobilization questions

Kuomintang (KMT) mayoral candidate Ko Chih-en held a rally at a temple in Kaohsiung, drawing an estimated crowd of over 3,000 people. The event, part of Ko's "Temple Folk Song" tour, was described by organizers as a sign that "the wind is rising" for the KMT in the southern city. Chen Kuan-an, who helped plan Ko's rallies four years ago, expressed surprise at the turnout, noting that more chairs had to be brought in due to the unexpectedly large crowd.

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Kaohsiung, the wind is rising!

Chen contrasted the Kaohsiung rally with an event held by Ko's opponent, Lai Jui-lung, on the same day. He described Lai's event as an indoor, air-conditioned gathering with a much smaller attendance, estimated at 200-300 people, and reliant on organized party bases. Chen emphasized that the scale of Ko's rally in Kaohsiung, a region not typically considered a KMT stronghold, was unprecedented for Ko's previous campaigns.

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The polls are cold, but people's hearts are warm.

However, the reported success of the rally faced scrutiny online. Netizens observed that many attendees in the front rows wore identical shirts and carried signs identifying specific neighborhoods. This led to accusations that the crowd was mobilized through organized efforts rather than genuine support, with comments suggesting the event was staged and participants were "mobilized" or "arranged."

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One look and you know it was mobilized.