Meeting his running mate Su Tseng-chang at the DPP campaign headquarters at Panchiao in the afternoon, Hsieh said he would come from behind to beat his Kuomintang rival.

"Taiwan is in danger," said Hsieh, who had come back from Tamali where he kicked off his "Give-a-high-five" island-wide campaign to symbolize his come-from-behind victory.

But Hsieh said the people of Taiwan have not given up hope for the future.

Their hope for a better future will make him win the election, Hsieh pointed out.

Mrs. Hsieh joined the DPP candidate in stumping for Taiwan's most populous county of Taipei.

In Taipei, doctors led the rally, in which Shieh Jhy-wey, director-general of the Government Information Office took the lead to call for Taiwan's admission to the United Nations under the name Taiwan.

A referendum on the UN bid will be held alongside the presidential election.

President Chen Shui-bian was back in his home county of Tainan to rally support for the DPP standard-bearer. Supporters protested China's anti-secession law, adopted on March 14, 2005.

Chen again demanded Ma Ying-jeou, the Kuomintang presidential candidate, produce evidence that his "green card" was legally invalidated. The green card certifies the holder's right of permanent residence in the United States.

In the county of Kaohsiung, supporters trekked in relays for miles, each of them turning their caps around to symbolize their wish that Hsieh would overtake Ma in the presidential race.

Chen Ming-wen, magistrate of Chiayi, led the rally to chant "Defend Taiwan and save democracy." Supporters also condemned Ma's proposal to form a common market across the Taiwan Strait.

Mayor Chen Chu marched at the head of DPP supporters in the special municipality of Kaohsiung. Close to 1,500 policemen were mobilized to maintain order as the DPP supporters crossed paths with their Kuomintang opposite numbers.

No clash was reported.

Demonstrations in the city of Taichung were peaceful, too. Supporters of both parties came across without a confrontation.

Altogether 23,000 supporters marched in the county of Taichung. Of them 16,000 gave a high five to onlookers. The remaining 7,000 accompanied them on foot.

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung took part in the DPP rally in Taichung.

Indigenous tribal dances were performed in Hsinchu to highlight the rally, in which at least 20,000 supporters participated.

The county of Pingtung staged a longest trek for the campaign. The trek lasted 64 kilometers. Ox carts were driven like floats and Matsu, the goddess of the seas, was paraded in the carnival-like rally.

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