* With the mayoral elections in Taiwan just two weeks away, political parties and candidates have stepped up their efforts in the final dash toward the finish line. The picture does not look particularly promising for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), however, as their nominees now appear to be the underdogs in a number of key races.
* Barring something unforeseen, Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je will win his reelection as the top executive of the capital city. The only suspense remaining is by how big of a margin for the incumbent mayor.
* Overall, the political landscape will likely undergo changes if current projections hold. It will make life more difficult for the ruling DPP, as Taiwan looks forward to the 2020 presidential and legislative elections.
* President Tsai Ing-wen will most likely seek reelection in 2020, and the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) may need to first resolve intra-party rivalry, especially if it wins big on 11/24, before reaching consensus on a presidential candidate. Judging from the KMT's past history, that will likely be a difficult and divisive process.
* Not the DPP or the KMT, the overwhelming attention will be on the future plans for Mayor Ko Wen-je. Though he has reiterated there are "no plans" to run for president in 2020, the expectations are that he will, as an independent candidate, launch a presidential bid in 2020.
* Without a political party that provides local organizational support throughout the island, it will be an uphill battle for the one-time surgeon. Ko is currently one of the most popular Taiwanese politicians in the Internet world. The challenge is to translate his support on-line into concrete votes with, at best, a make-shift organization in the presidential run. No one should discount Ko's abilities to put forth a presidential campaign, but it will be tough.
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