A viral internet meme has turned into a campaign asset for Taiwan's ruling party, a light but useful boost for its New Taipei mayoral bid.

• Someone carved a shiitake mushroom into a likeness of former president Tsai Ing-wen — glasses, center-parted hair, and a puzzled "huh?" expression — and it spread widely online.
• Tsai leaned into the joke and announced a first-ever mushroom carving contest, with entries already pouring in.
• Su Chiao-hui, the DPP lawmaker running for New Taipei mayor, says Tsai's popularity as her campaign chair is drawing crowds who want to see her in person.
• President Lai Ching-te and Tsai will both attend the campaign headquarters opening on September 5.
• Chiayi county magistrate candidate Tsai Yi-yu joked that carving him would be easy — just make it round.

Outlook: The DPP will keep riding the meme's goodwill into the September 5 campaign launch as New Taipei and Chiayi races heat up.