A Possible Split
in Conservative Votes Looms

Ex-Opposition Leader's belated entry erodes GNP candidate's lead

Former opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang has belatedly thrown his hat into ring, roiling the upcoming presidential election race, characterized by opposition party GNP candidate Lee Myung-bak's sweeping lead.
Ex-Grand National Party (GNP) Chairman Lee Hoi-chang declared his bid to run for the presidential election slated for Dec. 19 on an independent ticket after bolting from the opposition party. He unsuccessfully ran for the 1997 and 2002 presidential elections as the candidate of the New Korea Party and its follower, the GNP. He retired from politics after he suffered a narrow defeat by President Roh Moo-hyun in the 2002 presidential election.
Ex-GNP leader Lee's entry into the current presidential election race will apparently erode GNP candidate Lee's prominent lead, resetting the race into a three-way competition among Lee Myung-bak, Lee Hoi-chang and United New Democratic Party (UNDP) candidate Chung Dong-young.
An opinion poll conducted by TNS Korea shortly after Lee Hoi-chang's entry into the presidential race showed that Lee Myung-bak was still the front-runner, but he saw his support rate plummeting to 37.9 percent from a range of 50 percent, while Lee Hoi-chang was trailing with 24 percent, followed by Chung Dong-young's 13.9 percent. The other candidates showed single-digit poll numbers. Create Korea Party candidate Moon Kuk-hyun, Democratic Labor Party Kwon Young-gil and Democratic Party candidate Rhee In-je received 6.9 percent, 2.2 percent and 2.0 percent, respectively.
According to the poll findings, 52 percent of the respondents were against Lee Hoi-chang's entry into the race, while 36 percent were supportive of his move.
In particular, the poll indicated that Lee Hoi-chang was leading Lee Myung-bak in both the Chungcheong and Daegu areas, the bastion of former GNP chairperson Park Geun-hye, Lee Myung-bak's GNP primary rival.
Lee Myung-bak and Lee Hoi-chang have been trying to woo Park's support during the presidential campaignrs is expected to play an essential role in the race due to her strong influence over the nation's conservative voters.
Lee Myung-bak offered an olive branch to Park on Nov. 11, saying he would back Park's taking leadership of the GNP if he wins the presidential election.
Earlier, in an initial step to win over Park's support, he forced his closest confidant Lee Jae-oh, who criticized Park and her supporters before and after the primary contest, to step down from a high GNP position.
In a sign of relief to Lee Myung-bak, Park on Nov. 12 made it clear she will throw her support to the GNP's candidate Lee Myung-bak. She had been mum up to this point over whether she would give her support to Lee Myung-bak due to her dissatisfaction over the way he takes control of the GNP following the primary contest.
In an effort to thwart Lee Hoi-chang's declaration of his presidential ambition, Lee Myung-bak's aide disclosed that the then-GNP presidential candidate Lee Hoi-change's was involved in slush fund activities during the 2002 presidential election, despite a possible backlash against the GNP candidate Lee Myung-bak.
Announcing his bid to join the presidential race, Lee Hoi-chang disputed Lee Myung-bak's qualifications for becoming the head of state, alluding to such alleged scandals as the BBK stock price rigging case. Kim Kyung-jun, serving a prison term in the United States, is soon to be extradited to Korea to undergo the prosecution's probe into his role in the case, which could have an adverse impact on Lee Myung-bak's image in a direct or indirect fashion despite his denial of any wrongdoings.
Lee Hoi-chang also took an ultra-right stand against North Korea, criticizing Lee Myung-bak's amicable engagement policy toward the North.
Lee Hoi-chang hinted that he may withdraw his presidential bid if his poll numbers don't surpass the frontrunner, his spokesman said on Nov. 9.
Lee Hoi-chang said he joined in the presidential race in a bid to make sure the conservatives control the next government, putting an end to liberal hegemony.
Some political analysts share the view that he should withdraw, citing three negative factors - his independent candidacy after quitting the GNP, his negative image in regard to the slush funds during the 2002 presidential election and the reversal of his pledge to step down from politics.
Meanwhile, the UNDP's Chung and the DP's Lee agreed to merge the two parties and filed a unified candidate, which is to be determined by an opinion poll after two televised debates. The merge is designed to muster support from the liberal voters. The UNDP is also struggling to consolidate with the Create Korea Party and other parties. nw

GNP candidate
Lee Myung-bak

Independent candidate Lee Hoi-chang

Independent candidate Lee Hoi-chang