Breaking News, World News and Taiwan News.

Updated Saturday, November 12, 2011 0:31 am TWN, The China Post news staff

Sponsors
▪	Get the best deals for Guangzhou Hotels or choose from more than 10,000 hotels in 499 Chinese cities.
▪	Find great real time deals on China Flights. Book flights to China or China domestic flights 24/7.
▪	Buy china wholesale products from reliable chinese wholesalers on DHgate.com!
▪	Save 75% for all hotels in Shanghai, Beijing and whole China. Lowest rates for Flights in China.

Swing voters could make Tsai president: latest poll

President Ma Ying-jeou may continue to be the front-runner in popularity ratings, but estimated vote share based on a latest public opinion poll has given his competitor Tsai Ing-wen the lead in the presidential race, a TV channel said yesterday.

TVBS said a survey it conducted recently shows that Ma has support from 39 percent of the respondents, while Tsai has 38 percent — the narrowest between them in all public opinion polls published so far.

But the cable TV channel said that if sway votes are taken into consideration, Tsai would garner 47.3 percent of the votes, beating Ma's 45.8 percent.

This is the first time that the Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman has taken the lead over the incumbent president in any published survey or prediction.

It remains to be seen how accurate the TVBS estimation may be, but recent surveys have indicated the gap between the two candidates is closing.

Hsu Chia-ching, a spokesperson for Tsai's campaign, responded to the TVBS survey by saying that there is still some time until election day, and leading at this moment means very little.

The spokesperson said the DPP candidate will continue to listen to the people to find out what they need and will do her best to win their support.

Ma Wei-kiuo, a spokesperson of the president's reelection campaign, said results of all surveys will be taken into consideration.

But achievements in running the government will be important for winning voters' trust and support, the spokesperson said.

Tsai's popularity ratings dropped last month amid a row over her running mater Su Jia-chyuan's allegedly illegal farmhouse in the southern county of Pingtung.

But a series of blunders by the Ma administration in recent weeks is believed to have given a boost to the Tsai campaign.

Some political observers said many voters have already taken sides, and the third candidate — James Soong from the People First Party — may play a crucial role in determining the outcome depending on how many sway votes he will garner.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

Comments

November 13, 2011 mrdanielchen@

Dear Editors & Election concerning Friends:

No matter how popularity vote "Up & Down" the most important thing is that both President Candidates must use their wisdom & clean hands (No dirty money involved) to allow all voters to examine both President Candidates, make sure they have sufficient energy & wisdom to solve the mixed & complicated existing problems between Democratic Taiwan & Communist China.
Among the 2 nations one will stay in Democratic Form but One still keep Communist Dictatorship Military Power. They have been controlling Asia & other Countries that not easy to give up unending Military power in this time!?
Perhaps, in many years Democratic Taiwan must make a possible guidance to help Communist China put down all Military Power & Freedom to stand strong for Human Right in China & let all Chinese people & The World to see their peaceful movement rather than see their corrupt power & using the corrupt false power to control the Earth!
Loving care in action is necessary to change in China as well as Democratic Taiwan!
Retired Christian Elder,
Daniel Yi-Ta Chen Canada
November 12, 2011 Canadian time 12:52p.m.

November 13, 2011 hwangjcy@

Good News! Tsai is going to be the next president of Taiwan. All Taiwan voters must go to vote in the election day of January, 2012.