Kaohsiung's mayoral race turned combative as KMT candidate Ko Chih-en staged a prop-smashing stunt, which rivals call an attempt to stir up anger rather than win votes.

• Before registering her run for Kaohsiung mayor, Ko put on boxing gloves and smashed a foam placard naming the DPP's "New Tide" faction.
• KMT lawmakers then popped a balloon baseball bat, mocking a prop used a day earlier by DPP candidate Lai Jui-lung.
• DPP city council candidate Tsai Ping-tsung called the act hate-stirring theatre aimed at the party's deep-blue base, not at most voters.
• Lai had framed his own campaign around policy and record, a contrast the DPP is now pushing hard.
• The aggressive turn is being read locally as a sign that Han Kuo-yu's old campaign team has rejoined Ko's operation.

Outlook: Expect a sharper, more personal Kaohsiung campaign, with the DPP hammering the tone question and the KMT leaning on its base.