Party Heavyweights Canvass for Candidates in Tainan 台南參選人找重量級人物助陣 盼炒熱選情

Unlike in Taipei and New Taipei, Tainan residents are largely disinterested in the upcoming elections and political newcomers are having a hard time getting their names out there.

Newcomers in the political realm often have to rely on party heavyweights to canvass for them and get their name out there.

Chou Chia-wei, Tainan City Mayor Candidate (DPP): “There are many political heavyweights in the south, so it is very hard for newcomers to get elected to the city council.”

Tainan has been a DPP stronghold for as long as anyone can remember, but there isn't much interest in the upcoming elections. City councilors have even formed an alliance to generate buzz and are pleading with party heavyweights to canvass for them.

Huang Wei-che, Tainan City Mayor: “Taipei is the capital, so all eyes are on them. New Taipei is the largest special municipality, so all eyes are on them. There are separate battles being waged in the north and south, and you could say there isn't a great deal of balance. We have to respect that.”

The KMT's Tainan City mayoral candidate, Hsieh Lung-chieh, is known to most voters but he has still hit the campaign trail hard. Pan-blue newcomers, meanwhile, need the help of veteran politicians to get their names out there.

Hsieh Lung-chieh, Tainan City Mayor Candidate (KMT): “So, because all the attention is on the north and no one is paying attention to the south, I am committed to visiting local townships and listening to what residents have to say.”

Lin Yen-chu, Tainan City Councilor (KMT): “You have the situation where you're in Yongkang and most people already know who you are, but people might feel there's no point in voting since the election isn't generating enough buzz. We have to find ways to motivate them to vote.”

So far, there haven't been any fireworks in Tainan's five-way mayor race. All candidates are racking their brains trying to figure out how to engage voters.

選舉倒數，新人參選議員最怕知名度不足，找來同黨立委跨區站台，掃街拜票，火力全開。

民進黨台南市議員參選人周嘉韋說：「南部縱使有很強的母雞，但是議員的選情真的是非常非常的冷，新人就格外的艱難。」

即使台南民進黨執政多年，但選情北熱南冷，執政黨也能感受到，甚至還有議員們自組聯盟，同樣找來同黨籍立委母雞助陣，團體戰力更突出。

台南市長黃偉哲表示：「台北是首都，本來就是大家眾所矚目，新北市是最大的直轄市，也是大家矚目所在。南北之間我們其實各打各的仗，但是選民要怎樣評斷，或是怎樣看待這個熱與冷之間，我們還是尊重。」

而藍營今年派出高知名度高的謝龍介參選市長，也都必須到廟口跟民眾搏感情。藍營小雞們除了依靠自己的在地經營，有人脈的資深議員也只能請來大咖拉抬聲勢。

國民黨台南市長參選人謝龍介指出：「所以就是因為北熱南冷，我要不斷的深入到民間跟鄉親直接接觸，直接呼喚，直接對話。」

國民黨台南市議員林燕祝表示：「我的選情就是可能，雖然我在永康，我已經標榜到民眾大概都認識我，但是大家會認為說選舉這麼冷，乾脆不用去投票，我們是要如何激發他們走出來去投票。」

台南市長選戰5搶1仍不見煙硝味，相對於議員選情更冷清，要怎麼拉抬更加是傷透腦筋。