Taiwan opposition candidate leads in presidential vote

March 22, 2008

Taiwan's opposition candidate Ma Ying-jeou surged to an early lead of 17 points over his ruling party rival in Saturday's presidential election after a quarter of the vote count, television showed. Ma, of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), was also shown to be leading in 20 of Taiwan's counties and cities over the Democratic Progressive Party's Frank Hsieh.