Taiwan President Lai Ching-te took part in the Hsinchu City God Temple's Ghost Month pilgrimage procession for the first time as president, warming up for the year-end elections at an event where both the Kuomintang and Democratic Progressive Party mayoral hopefuls appeared together — exposure that counts as neutral to mildly positive for both camps.

• In his remarks, Lai Ching-te introduced both incumbent Mayor Kao Hung-an and DPP candidate Chuang Ching-cheng, asking the crowd to applaud the two of them.
• He said he would not discuss politics at a religious occasion, offering only his wish that voters elect an honest, diligent mayor who loves the local community at the year-end polls.
• At one point during the speech he said "president" instead of "mayor," immediately correcting himself.
• Kao Hung-an took the opportunity to introduce Deputy Mayor Lin Kun-han, a former professional baseball player, to Lai Ching-te, and the interaction among the three was natural.
• Chuang Ching-cheng pledged that if elected he would take part in the entire procession — an event with more than 170 years of history — every year.

Outlook: The Hsinchu mayoral race has entered its substantive phase, and the KMT and DPP camps will continue to face off directly at local events.