'Stupid' clash could hurt leader
An unexpected violent clash has dealt opposition Kuomintang candidate Ma Ying-jeou a serious blow, with the Taiwanese presidential election less than 10 days away.
While it is widely believed the popular frontrunner could score an easy victory over his ruling Democratic Progressive Party opponent Frank Hsieh Chang-ting, analysts are assessing the impact of the clash, which could undermine Mr Ma's chances.
The incident took place on Wednesday, when four KMT legislators barged into Mr Hsieh's Taipei campaign headquarters, alleging influence-peddling and claiming the DPP candidate was using the building illegally. It set off a clash between Mr Hsieh's supporters and police, who were trying to protect the legislators.
'This is really stupid,' said George Tsai Wei, political science professor at Taipei-based Chinese Cultural University. 'An incident like this provides the DPP candidate the much-needed ammunition to attack Ma.'
Mr Hsieh, who is fighting an uphill battle after the DPP's drubbing in January's legislative elections, has been waiting for an opportunity to bash Mr Ma, hoping to repeat the impact of the mysterious shooting that turned the tide for President Chen Shui-bian in the elections four years ago.
Chang Ling-chen, a professor of political science at National Taiwan University, said after a forum in Hong Kong that Wednesday's clash would have some negative impact on Mr Ma.
'The DPP could seize this opportunity by claiming that if the island is ruled by one party [both for the presidential office and the legislature], then the situation will be like this,' Professor Chang said.
She said that while Mr Ma's lead was likely to be maintained, the incident would certainly affect voters who had yet to make up their minds.
Also calling the KMT legislators 'very stupid', Hwang Kwang-kuo, another professor at National Taiwan University, said that while an individual incident was unlikely to change the tide at the moment, Mr Hsieh could gradually catch up should there be a similar incident.
'You see, the DPP has already published big advertisements in Taiwanese newspapers saying how lawless and restless it would be if the KMT won the presidential election.'
Full- and front-page ads run by the DPP yesterday urged voters to teach the KMT and its candidate a lesson by voting against Mr Ma.
