Cracks have appeared in the Kuomintang's efforts to unify behind its candidate in the Changhua County magistrate race — bad news for both party chair Cheng Li-wun and candidate Wei Ping-cheng.

• Cheng Li-wun made her fourth recent trip to Changhua to stump for Wei Ping-cheng, and incumbent magistrate Wang Hui-mei once again did not appear alongside her.
• Asked about Wang Hui-mei's absence and about who would bear responsibility for a defeat, Cheng Li-wun declined to respond throughout, saying only that the weather was hot and thanking people for their efforts.
• Former magistrate Cho Po-yuan publicly warned that the race in Changhua is "very dangerous," and called on Cheng Li-wun to step down if the party loses.
• Wang Hui-mei said on Facebook that she would fulfil her duties as a party member, but stressed that in the final 127 days of her term she would work alongside the county government team right up to the last moment.
• County party chapter director Hsiao Ching-tien defended Wang Hui-mei on the grounds of administrative neutrality, and promised she would certainly be invited to the opening of the campaign headquarters.

Outlook: The launch of Wei Ping-cheng's campaign headquarters will be the key indicator of whether Wang Hui-mei returns to the fold and whether the KMT can close ranks.