With the Taipei mayoral race entering its final stretch, DPP candidate Puma Shen intends to step outside the green camp's echo chamber and seek advice on municipal governance from senior figures in the blue and white camps — a move that works in his favour as he courts swing voters.

• Shen has taken up a suggestion from former minister without portfolio Chang Ching-sen and is planning visits to Chen Shui-bian and Tsai Ing-wen, as well as consultations with Ko Wen-je and Jaw Shaw-kong.
• The Taiwan People's Party said it has not received any approach so far, but that Ko is open to the idea and happy to share his experience of running the city, and would welcome such a meeting.
• Shen stressed that his visits are not confined to any one party, and that he will travel south to see Chen Shui-bian within a month.
• At the same time he took aim at Chiang Wan-an's city government, questioning whether Taipei residents' money is being wasted, from exorbitantly priced parasols to the "fenced-in smoking room" at Gongguan.
• The blue camp is not without turmoil of its own: the KMT expelled Ting Yu and suspended Hsiao Ching-yen's party rights, drawing criticism that it has room only for "brainless line-toeing".

Outlook: If the cross-party meetings actually come off, they will be a key step in Shen's push for swing voters — but neither side has set a date as yet.