Taiwan's ruling party is going on the offensive over the criminal records of five opposition candidates, a sign the November local elections are turning into a fight over character rather than policy.

• With 79 days to go before the November 28 local elections, the DPP published a list of five KMT and TPP candidates who have been indicted or convicted.
• The named candidates include Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao, Miaoli County chief Chung Tung-chin, and KMT hopefuls Su Ching-chuan, Hsieh Lung-chieh, and Chen Yu-chen.
• Kao was convicted over misused assistant funds, Chung admitted to a fatal assault decades ago, and Su faces charges over a hospital fire that killed nine people.
• Hsieh and Chen are both charged with injuring DPP lawmakers during last year's brawls over the legislature's power-expansion bills.
• The KMT and TPP have been publicly closing ranks, with both party leaders appearing alongside Kao at her re-election registration.

Outlook: Expect the opposition to hit back and the campaign to stay focused on scandal and court records through November.