Tsai Ing-wen integrates Taitung green camp, appears with Rao Qingling; Huang Wei-han: The battle has become a 50-50 race

Former President Tsai Ing-wen has made a significant move in the upcoming Taitung County magistrate election, accepting a position as the director of the campaign headquarters for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Chen Ying. This strategic appointment, announced during a visit to Taitung, also saw Tsai appearing alongside the incumbent Taitung County Magistrate, Rao Qingling, in a gesture that observers noted seemed to transcend traditional party lines.

Political commentator Huang Wei-han highlighted the impact of Tsai's involvement, suggesting it has transformed what was expected to be a challenging race for the DPP into a much closer contest, potentially a "50-50" split. Huang pointed out that Tsai's primary objective appears to be consolidating support for Chen Ying, who is described as the "Puyuma Little Princess." This move is seen as a direct attempt to secure the crucial indigenous vote, which has historically been difficult for the DPP to win in Taitung.

Huang noted that Tsai's visit involved integrating local DPP figures, such as former legislator Liu Jao-how, who will serve as Chen Ying's campaign manager. The image of Tsai and Rao Qingling together, with the former praising the county's administration, contrasted sharply with the absence of the Kuomintang (KMT) candidate, Wu Xiu-hua, from these interactions. This suggests a calculated political maneuver aimed at broadening the DPP's appeal beyond its traditional base.

The demographic landscape of Taitung, with a significant indigenous population of nearly 80,000 out of 210,000 residents, makes securing these votes critical. Huang's analysis suggests that if Chen Ying can garner 50,000 votes and Wu Xiu-hua falls short of 60,000, Tsai's "Chairperson" role could indeed make the election a tight race. The DPP has historically secured around 40,000 votes in Taitung's legislative and magistrate elections, underscoring the need for a new strategy to overcome this ceiling.

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Chairperson Tsai reports for duty! Taitung is a 50-50 race!