Former Keelung Mayor Lin Yu-chang seen as dark horse option

Party primary format is highly strategic, contentious, gives party leaders influence over candidate selection

Eric Chu turned things around with combination of good fortune, skill, strategic planning and plenty of perseverance and grit

True, elections were disastrous for the DPP, but there is more to the story

DPP chose late appeal to make local elections about democracy and China threat, handing propaganda win to those who argue Taiwan isn't worth defending

It's full of life, intrigue, drama, and at the end of the day serves the fundamental purpose of choosing leaders efficiently

Dealt a bad hand coming into this election, DPP is struggling to hold what little it has

Many in international media will also mistakenly speculate local election results have implications for 2024

The DPP had a golden opportunity to own a substantive issue relevant to local elections but only offered slogans and grandstanding

DPP needs Hsinchu to stave off an embarrassing election result, but TPP risks being turned into a one-man band if they don't win