Taiwan's Kaohsiung mayoral race is taking shape, and the DPP's candidate looks comfortable for now.

• Lai Jui-lung, the DPP's pick for Kaohsiung mayor, has set up his campaign base in the northern Zuoying district.
• The site is a converted property showroom, with staff moving in during September and a formal launch in October.
• He represents a southern district in parliament, so a northern base is meant to balance his reach across the city.
• Polls still show him ahead, and his team is building local support groups before bigger rallies.
• His KMT rival, Ko Chih-en, is still working out of the party's city office and may look for a new site.

Outlook: Candidate registration runs from the end of August into early September, and Lai plans to register midweek with a surprise guest to build momentum.