The KMT is aiming to hang on to the counties of Yilan and Hsinchu where the race is tight, and is hoping for wins in the traditional DPP strongholds of Yunlin, Chiayi and Pingtung counties, according to party sources. Therefore, Ma is focusing his campaign efforts in those constituencies, according to the sources. Ma made a campaign stop in Chiayi county Saturday, and will go into full swing during his after-work hours over the next few days, KMT Secretary-General Chan Chuen-po indicated yesterday.

"The chairman will spend most of his time in Yunlin and Hsinchu counties," Chan said. On the eve of the elections, Ma will join election rallies in the two countries, which are seen as being crucial, with the hope of giving a boost to the KMT's candidates Lu Kuo-hua and Chiu Ching-chun, as well as to other KMT candidates in the elections around the country, KMT sources said.

Campaign rallies for KMT candidates nationwide will be held in their respective constituencies in the final pitch on the eve of the elections, according to Chan. The KMT has launched a series of campaign TV commercials and Ma will make a number of radio broadcasts, urging voters to support the party when they go to the polls, the KMT sources added.

Meanwhile, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen joined the party's Nantou County candidate Lin Yun-sheng on a street-to-street campaign yesterday in the central county. Over the next four days, Tsai will hit the campaign trail in other cities and counties around the country, giving special attention to the KMT-governed counties of Yilan, Hsinchu, Nantou and Taitung, where the DPP stands a chance of winning, DPP officials said yesterday.

Tsai's campaign plans for election eve are top secret, but Hsinchu and Yilan counties are most likely to be on the itinerary, the officials added. In the final week of its campaign, the DPP's is expected to focus on criticism of the Ma administration, anti-vote buying, and efforts to convince people who work or live outside the administrative boundaries of their registered households to return home to vote.

The DPP will also reiterate its promises to lower unemployment in the local areas, reduce the gap between rich and poor, and establish a social care network for children and the elderly, according to the officials. The three-in-one polls are for the election of mayors and magistrates, city and county councilors, and city and township heads.