Word: ma
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...This theme is one that Hsieh is pounding home on the campaign trail. At a late-February rally of 100,000 people at a Taipei stadium, Hsieh painted Ma's position toward China as a sure way of undermining Taiwan's economy and squashing its democratic ideals and hopes for independence. If Ma has his way, "in the end we will give up our sovereignty," Hsieh blasted. "If this happens, we will not have the dignity of being our own masters." (TIME requested an interview with Hsieh but it wasn't granted...
...stage in Taiwan but found a stage in China." In 2005, then KMT chairman Lien Chan made a breakthrough visit to Beijing, during which he buried the hatchet with the party's communist foes. The DPP "perceives the mainland as a threat. We should and do," says Ma. However, he adds, "we also perceive the mainland as an opportunity...
...Ma's message is so far winning out. Polls show him ahead of Hsieh by double digits. A big reason is Ma himself. The former Taipei mayor and triathlon competitor has become the new face of the new KMT. Born in Hong Kong, Ma arrived in Taiwan as a 1-year-old and, after studying in the U.S., held a long list of posts in KMT governments, including Justice Minister. While campaigning, Ma is often received more like a touring pop star than a politician. "Look at how the ladies react," comments one aide as Ma departs from a rally...
...Ma's biggest asset, however, is the DPP's outgoing Chen. His administration has been so tarnished by corruption scandals that public confidence in the DPP has soured. Even First Lady Wu Shu-chen was indicted on charges of graft and forgery in 2006; she pled not guilty and a verdict has yet to be delivered. Fed-up voters carried the KMT to a landslide victory in legislative elections in January. (Ma was also indicted last year for misappropriating public funds but was cleared of wrongdoing by the courts. An appeal by prosecutors to the Supreme Court is now pending...
...Historical Baggage The presidential election, though, is far from over. Ma has a potential Achilles heel - the mere fact that he's KMT. Hsieh can count on a full third of the electorate to vote against the KMT under almost any circumstances. Ma has tried to counter by appearing more sensitive to issues of Taiwanese identity. He has spent long stretches in the island's south - DPP territory - where he often bypasses hotels to stay in the homes of ordinary folk. At one rally of labor unionists in Taipei, Ma made sure to lead the crowd in cheers of "Taiwan...