Blue camp's top three leaders unite to boost Chiang Chi-chen's campaign kickoff

KMT Legislator Chiang Chi-chen officially established his campaign headquarters in Taichung City. The rally not only drew a massive crowd of supporters but also featured a highly anticipated political highlight. At the event, the "Baldy, Hunk, and Swallow" trio—who swept across Taiwan and generated countless headlines eight years ago—reunited to jointly endorse Chiang Chi-chen's bid for Taichung Mayor. The appearance of these three heavyweight political figures on the same stage evoked collective memories for many pan-Blue supporters and symbolized the solidarity between local factions and party elders. The joint rally aims to secure the political landscape in central Taiwan and demonstrate the KMT's resolute ambition to win the region.

Looking back, the political codes of the "Baldy, Hunk, and Swallow" originated from the 2018 nine-in-one elections. At the time, former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu represented the "Baldy," New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi represented the "Hunk," and Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen represented the "Swallow." Through cross-regional campaigning and joint rallies, the three sparked a massive political wave across Taiwan, successfully driving substantial electoral gains for the KMT. The reunion of the three at Chiang Chi-chen's campaign headquarters establishment rally carries high symbolic significance for the pan-Blue grassroots. It not only replicates the winning formula of the past but also sends a strong signal to the outside world of internal KMT unity and all-out campaign assistance amid a tight race.

In addition to the joint support from the "Big Three," KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wun personally attended the grand event and delivered a heavyweight speech. Addressing the crowd and all citizens from the stage, Cheng called on voters to firmly safeguard Taiwan's democratic lifeline through their ballots. The personal presence and strong appeal of the party chairperson elevated the local election to a level concerning Taiwan's future direction and democratic defense. By arousing voters' sense of crisis and party identification, the party attempted to further consolidate cohesion, inject a booster shot into Chiang Chi-chen's campaign, and solidify the KMT's governing advantage and political territory in Taichung.

For Chiang Chi-chen, Taichung City—as a vital hub and populous metropolis in central Taiwan—has always been a fiercely contested battleground for both the Blue and Green camps. The high-profile lineup at the campaign headquarters establishment rally underscored the immense importance placed on his campaign by both the party center and local elders. From the resurgence of the past "Baldy, Hunk, and Swallow" whirlwind to the high-level appeals made by Chairperson Cheng Li-wun, the rally successfully united the pan-Blue camp's cohesion and demonstrated powerful organizational mobilization capabilities and the ambition to win to all voters through media dissemination, laying a solid foundation for the upcoming campaign sprint.

With the official establishment of the campaign headquarters, the electoral pace in Taichung has fully entered a heated phase. Backed by numerous party heavyweights, how Chiang Chi-chen translates the enthusiasm from the rally into actual votes, while continually delivering substantive policy discourse and local cultivation, will be the key to determining victory or defeat. Through this star-studded unity rally, the KMT attempted to prove to voters its capability to lead Taichung forward. The subsequent developments of this election and the offensive and defensive strategies of various camps will continue to sway the overall situation of Taiwan's political arena.