TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — DPP Legislator Lin Tai-hua (林岱樺), a Kaohsiung mayoral primary candidate, drew large crowds at her first rally in Gangshan District on Saturday, despite several key figures from her faction backing out at the last minute.

Lin, a member of the DPP’s Taiwan Normal Country Promotion Association faction, was indicted by the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office on June 23 for allegedly embezzling NT$14 million (US$456,000) in legislative aide salaries. She has denied any wrongdoing, claiming she had neither the motive nor the actions necessary to support the allegations, per CNA.

During the rally, Lin suggested the charges against her were politically motivated, arguing that neither prosecutors nor party factions should determine who becomes the next mayor of Kaohsiung, per Liberty Times. DPP Legislator Wang Yi-chuan (王義川), New Taipei City Councilor and Spokesperson Chuo Kuan-ting (卓冠廷), Legislator Chen Hsiu-pao (陳秀寶), and Legislator Huang Hsiu-fang (黃秀芳) all withdrew from attending the rally.

Organizers claimed attendance reached 30,000 people. DPP insiders said Lin appeared to have timed the rally strategically, before official registration, to demonstrate her grassroots support and reduce pressure to withdraw for the sake of party unity, per UDN.

However, party insiders also noted that Lin’s three opponents in the primary could join forces to block her nomination. A local observer said Gangshan District, formerly part of Kaohsiung County, remains a stronghold for Lin due to her deep local ties. Still, younger voters reportedly remain skeptical of her claims of innocence and have criticized the alleged attempt by her campaign to manipulate polling numbers.

Taiwan Public Opinion Foundation Chair You Ying-lung (游盈隆) said Lin’s continued grassroots support shows she remains a contender in the primary, per Mirror Media. Political commentator Clara Chou (周玉蔻) warned, however, that if Lin secures the nomination, the DPP could lose all municipalities except Chiayi County, per ETtoday.

Chou urged the party to suspend Lin’s membership or rally around a single candidate to defeat her in the primary. She added that with a court ruling expected before the election, any threat posed by Lin running as an independent could be neutralized if she is found guilty.

Amid speculation that she might run as an independent, Lin on Monday reiterated her loyalty to the party, saying she would withdraw if she loses the primary, per ETtoday. She expressed confidence in her innocence and her chances of winning the DPP nomination for the Kaohsiung mayoral race.

A recent internal DPP poll conducted from Sept. 27 to 30, with a sample size of 1,087 and a margin of error of ±2.97%, found Legislator Lai Jui-lung (賴瑞隆) leading in intra-party favorability, per NOWnews. Lai also performed best against potential KMT challenger Legislator Ko Chih-en (柯志恩), while Legislator Chiu Yi-ying (邱議瑩) was the only primary contender projected to lose to Ko.

Lai led Lin by more than 10 percentage points in favorability, while Lin held a similar advantage over Chiu and Legislator Hsu Chih-chieh (許智傑).