Tue, Jun 05, 2007 page3

• Analysis: Attention shifts to Hsieh's choice for running mate

  GUESSING GAME While Frank Hsieh has expressed a preference for Yeh Chu-lan, the president appears to favor Su Tseng-chang for the vice presidency

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  With the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) selection of a vice presidential candidate rapidly descending into a melodrama, public and media attention has shifted to the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) search for a running mate for its presidential candidate, Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

  Hsieh yesterday remained tightlipped about his choice of a running mate, saying he would carefully consider and respect the feelings of any potential candidate.

  Despite Hsieh's reticence, it is widely believed that former acting Kaohsiung mayor Yeh Chu-lan (葉菊蘭) is the front-runner. Hsieh confirmed before the primary that he did talk about pairing up with Yeh if he won the nomination, while emphasizing that gender was not an issue in his selection of a running mate.

  Hsieh publicly praised Yeh before the nomination, saying she would be his No. 1 choice if he could pick his running mate freely. However, he also said that things might not turn out as he willed as he had to respect the opinion of party heavyweights and that of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁).

  Chen, who reportedly favors former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) as Hsieh's running mate, once said that the "age of the man-woman ticket is over" and that he did not think the next presidential election necessarily had to have a "male-female ticket."

  Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), however, thinks differently. She has urged Hsieh to pick a running mate who is cooperative and in whom who he could confide in during the four-year term. The running mate must complement him in various areas, she said, including gender and expertise.

  The Hakka population could not agree with Lu more. Nearly 50 Hakka groups around the world have come out in support of Yeh, calling on Hsieh to nominate a Hakka as his running mate.

  Chao Yung-mau (趙永茂), a political science professor at National Taiwan University, said that Yeh and Su had complementary strengths.

  Yeh complements Hsieh because she is a Hakka, a woman and gets on well with the presidential candidate. Su's strengths are his mobilization power. A Hsieh-Su ticket would therefore create a strong image of a united party, he said.

  Chao said it would be a waste of Su's talents to serve as vice president, but if called, Su must put the interest of the party and the nation before his own because the DPP would suffer a great loss if it failed to win the election.

  Hu Tsu-ching (胡祖慶), a political science professor at Tunghai University, said he did not think DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun had ruled himself out of the presidential race.

  Hsieh could shake off the burden placed upon him by Chen if he defied Chen's preference and paired up with Yeh, Hu said.

  Yu had planned to nominate Lu and Su as legislators-at-large, a move some interpreted as a means to clear the way for Yeh's nomination.

  However, the two turned down the offer, giving rise to speculation they are still waiting for an opportunity to replace Hsieh if he were indicted for graft over his use of the special allowance fund as Kaohsiung mayor. Hsieh has made it clear that he would drop out of the race if he were indicted.

  Chao said it was understandable for Su and Lu to turn down the offer to run in the legislative elections because they are waiting for a chance to stage a comeback.

  If Hsieh wins the presidency, Su and Lu might be appointed to bigger positions, Chao said. And if Hsieh loses or drops out of the race, they have a good chance of taking over, he said.

  In addition to Lu and Su, Hsieh might want to look for party's disbanded New Tide faction. The faction's old guard, Wu Nai-jen (吳乃仁), recently caused a stir when he rejected Hsieh's offer to work as a campaign strategist.

  Some argued that Wu's move was a deliberate attempt to embarrass Hsieh, but Chao said that Wu was playing the "good cop, bad cop" with Vice Premier Chiou I-jen (邱義仁), who was also a member of the former faction and has agreed to work for Hsieh's campaign.

  Chao said that Wu must have given much thought on how to keep the faction members together after they losing heavily in the party's legislative primary. Many faction members blamed infighting for their loss.

  Hu echoed this view, saying he did not think Wu was the kind of person who would do things to hurt Hsieh or the party.
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