A public rift inside Taiwan's KMT is deepening in Changhua, and it looks bad for the party's chances in the year-end county chief race.

• Changhua county chief Wang Hui-mei says she remains a KMT member but will not take a post in Wei Ping-cheng's campaign headquarters.
• Former county chief Cho Po-yuan accused party chair Cheng Li-wun of forcing Wei on Changhua and bullying both Wang and local party members.
• Wei was picked in May as a surprise fourth choice after three declared hopefuls were pushed aside, and the anger has not died down since.
• The local party office admits Wei is short on money and manpower, and still wants Wang — seen as the party's strongest local draw — to lead his campaign.
• Wei says he respects her decision; Cheng Li-wun has kept campaigning for him and is shrugging off the criticism.

Outlook: With three candidates in the race and the KMT still split, Wei starts at a disadvantage unless the party can pull Wang back in.