Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai is being deployed as the DPP's top campaign draw ahead of local elections, a sign of his rising standing inside the party.

• Chen will appear at Su Chiao-hui's New Taipei campaign headquarters opening on September 5, alongside President Lai Ching-te and former president Tsai Ing-wen.
• On September 12 he crosses to Penghu to back county magistrate candidate Wu Shu-chin, who put him beside her on her campaign posters.
• He launches a book on Kaohsiung's transformation in Taipei on September 4, with Lai and Taipei candidate Puma Shen attending.
• The run started a day earlier when he turned up as a surprise guest for Kaohsiung candidate Lai Jui-lung.

Outlook: Expect Chen to keep touring the island for DPP candidates as the local election campaign ramps up.