Keelung, Nov. 4 (CNA) A recent survey of adult residents in the northern Taiwan port city of Keelung has found that former Taiwan Governor James Soong remains the most favored presidential candidate for the 2000 election.
The survey was the first to be conducted in Keelung in connection with next year's presidential election.
The telephone poll of 1,093 eligible voters conducted by Focus Survey Research Co. at the request of the Global Television Co. and the Journalist weekly from Oct. 28-29, found that 40.4 percent of the respondents would vote for Soong if the presidential election were to take place the following day.
Soong, a former ruling Kuomintang powerhouse who is running a rival campaign against the KMT's presidential candidate -- incumbent Vice President Lien Chan -- has topped other presidential hopefuls in numerous opinion polls in other parts of the country.
The latest survey results gave opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Chen Shui-bian an 18 percent support rate, still higher than Lien's 14.8 percent support rate.
New Party candidate Li Ao won the support of 0.5 percent of those interviewed, while independent candidate Hsu Hsin-liang's support rate was 0.4 percent.
In the same poll, 25.9 percent of the respondents either said they had yet to make a decision or declined to identify their favorite choice.
Asked which candidate is most competent, 37.5 percent chose Soong; 16.2 percent opted for Lien; and 13.8 percent said they believe that Chen would be the most capable leader.
The poll results also showed that 40.3 percent of the respondents believe that Soong can best protect the rights and interests of the underprivileged; followed by Chen's 18.3 percent and Lien's 7.4 percent.
In contrast, Chen won the highest rating for his courage and ability to promote reforms, with a support rate of 39.7 percent. Soong followed with 26.6 percent and Lien brought up the rear with 8.1 percent.
Asked who can best safeguard Taiwan's interests in the face of mainland China's military threat, 22.2 percent chose Lien, and Soong was just behind with a support rate of 21.9 percent. Chen won a 10.8-percent support rate in this category.
Lien also led in the category of "promoting Taiwan's economic recovery and prosperity," with a support rate of 28.8 percent, followed by Soong's 23.9 percent and Chen's 12.1 percent.
In comparison, Soong is believed to be most responsive to public opinion, followed by Chen with 20.6 percent and Lien with 4.7 percent. (By Sofia Wu)
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