With the Taipei mayoral race heating up, veteran media figure Jaw Shaw-kong gave a relatively positive assessment of Democratic Progressive Party candidate Puma Shen after interviewing him — a signal worth noting for the camp of incumbent Chiang Wan-an.

• Shen was interviewed on the BCC radio programme "Jaw Shaw-kong Time," and his performance was rated 7 or 8 out of a possible 10.
• The assessment centred on his quick responses and thorough preparation; he had answers ready for the questions that had already been raised about him.
• Jaw stated plainly that his party loyalties still lie with his old friend Chiang Wan-an, but he considers Shen's unexpected rise a phenomenon worth watching.
• Chiang was previously unable to appear on the programme because of general interpellation at the city council, and will appear on Wang Wei-chung's radio programme on the 28th.
• The incumbent is defending while the challenger is attacking from below — the two campaigns are fundamentally different in strategy.

Outlook: Chiang Wan-an's radio interview at the end of the month will be the next point of comparison, and the clash between the two sides on the airwaves is only just beginning.