* As anticipated, President Tsai Ing-wen nominated her rival in the DPP presidential primary, former Premier William C. T. Lai, to be her running mate for the presidential contest on January 11, 2020. While most believe this is the most formidable ticket for the ruling party, how well they will work together during the campaign and after the election, if they win, remains to be seen. After all, Tsai and Lai are very different people from personality to ideology. Whether they can truly bury the hatchet and move forward continues to raise some questions.
* Lai's nomination proves three things: (1) the DPP has a tradition of effectively reconciling intra-party differences and forge unity despite seemingly insurmountable odds. The formation of the Tsai-Lai ticket is another indication that that traditional is alive and well. (2) in his own words, Lai is a "pragmatic practitioner" for Taiwan independence. While his name on the ticket may help solidify support of the fundamentalists, it may also push away some light-Green and light-Blue voters who are unhappy with KMT presidential nominee, Kaohsiung Han Kuo-yu. And (3) Lai now has a leg up on all other DPP presidential aspirants for 2024, particularly the popular Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan. Though a lot can happen in four years, if elected, Lai is now in the driver's seat if he so desires a shot at the presidency in 2024.
* Following PFP Chairman James C.Y. Soong joining the 2020 field and Lai's nomination to be Tsai's running mate, shifts in candidates' standings in public opinion polls will take place accordingly. Since KMT's Han is expected to take another beating following controversy over his real estate transactions, the attention is on whether: (1) the Tsai-Lai ticket has solidified the DPP's lead as the frontrunner, and (2) Soong can make a significant inroads, possibly from 10% to close to 15%, following his formal announcement on 11/13.
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