DIFFERENT SURVEYS HAVE DIFFERENT CANDIDATES LEADING THE 2000 RACE
Taipei, Aug. 20 (CNA) Two newly-released polls, place Vice President Lien Chan and former Taiwan Provincial Governor James Soong in the lead respectively in the race for the 2000 presidency.
In a survey conducted by Taipei's Shih Hsin University, Soong kept his lead over two other candidates with 29.3 percent of the support of those interviewed, Lien followed closely behind with 24.2 percent. Chen Shui-bian, the candidate nominated by the Democratic Progressive Party won the support of 22.8 percent.
The survey didn't disclose the share of support for independent presidential candidate Hsu Hsing-liang, and was conducted before the New Party candidate Lee Ao entered the race earlier in the week.
Although Lien trailed Soong in terms of support, he was considered by most -- 42.7 percent -- as the likely winner of next spring's election. Soong followed Lien with 26.7 percent, while 6.2 percent thought Chen would be the next occupant of the Presidential Office.
The author of the survey said that although Soong is still the front runner, his lead over Lien is narrowing, an ill omen for Soong.
The survey was conducted between Aug. 12-16, among 1,818 residents of Taipei City, Taipei County and Keelung County. The margin of error was five percentage points.
Meanwhile a survey among 622 owners of small- and medium-sized business found Lien as the preferred presidential candidate.
When asked who would they vote for if the election were to be held tomorrow, 43 percent answered Lien, 22 percent said Soong, while Chen Shui-bian got 17 percent and Hsu Hsin-liang, two percent. The remaining respondents either refused to answer or said they didn't know.
Lee Cheng-chia, the honorary chairman of the ROC Association of Samll- and Medium-sized Business that conducted the poll and boasts of having 4,417 members, pitched for Lien's candidacy at the press conference called to release the survey.
Lee praised Lien's performance throughout his political career and touted the vice president as the most forward-looking candidate as well as the one with the best international vision. (By Maubo Chang)
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