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Poll shows Lai would beat Han in Taiwan presidential matchup

Survey shows William Lai would defeat Han Kuo-yu in Taiwan presidential race

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Lai (left), Han (right).

Lai (left), Han (right). (CNA photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- The non-partisan Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation (台灣民意基金會) published a new poll on Sunday (April 21) that indicates Former premier William Lai (賴清德) would beat Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu (韓國瑜) if he ran as the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) candidate in Taiwan's 2020 presidential election, while current President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) would not.

On Sunday, the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation released the results of a poll titled "Taiwan Voters Watch the Tsai-Lai Debate" (台灣總統選民看蔡賴之争). When asked for their preference in the DPP primary for presidential candidate, 49.9 percent would choose Lai, 27.7 percent would back Tsai, and 18.8 percent said it was difficult to decide.

If Lai was in a head-to-head contest with the Kuomintang's (KMT's) Han for president, 46.2 percent would select Lai, while 41.7 percent would support Han. If Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was added to the mix, 33.2 percent would choose Lai, 31.1 percent would back Han, and 27.8 percent would opt for Ko.

If Tsai was to go toe-to-toe with Han in a presidential race, 47.9 would vote for Han, while 39.6 percent would select Tsai. If Ko was added to the race, 35.8 percent will opt for Han, 27.9 would vote for Ko, and 27.5 percent would back Tsai.

In addition, the poll asked respondents to compare Lai with Tsai for seven different traits, including care for people’s needs, promote Taiwan's economic development, bring positive change, have leadership skills, being honest and trustworthy, deal with cross-strait relations, improve the nation’s status and dignity. Lai rated ahead of Tsai in all seven traits by at least 9.4 percent.

For the trait "honest and trustworthy," 47.6 percent of respondents chose Lai, while 27.8 percent selected Tsai, a difference of nearly 20 percent.

Foxconn chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘) was not included in the poll because it had been conducted on Monday and Tuesday, and Gou did not announce his participation in the KMT primary until Wednesday.

The nationwide poll contacted 1,072 registered voters by telephone and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 2.99 percentage points.