“We Will Win” vs. “We Can Overturn the Situation”

The Grand National Party primary will be held on August 19. Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye are exerting last-minute efforts to become a presidential candidate. This newspaper interviewed Park Hui-tae and Hong Sa-deok, the chief campaign managers of Lee and Park, to hear what they had to say about their strategies and directions in the primary.

Park Hui-tae said in the interview, “The die has been cast. During the last few days, we’re going to solidify Lee’s image as an “economic president” to the public.” The following is an excerpt from the interview:

Q. How do you perceive the outlook for Lee?

A. “Public opinion polls show that Lee is ahead of Park by 10-13% and that a similar gap is found among party members and the board of party representatives. There are 20 to 30 more members at the party council holding the right of nomination who are also supporting Lee. The primary is only 20 days away. Lee’s victory is a 100% sure thing.”

Q. What are your strategies to win in the primary?

A. “An advantage in ‘public sentiment’ is translated into an advantage in ‘party sentiment.’ The zeitgeist of this primary is ‘saving the economy.’ The public wants their next president to turn the economy around. Our strategy is to keep emphasizing Lee’s image as an ‘economic president.’”

Q. Why do you think that many people believe the phrase: “The tide has turned in favor of Lee Myung-bak”?

A. “The former Seoul mayor has already proved he can create something from nothing. Most people don’t think Park is capable enough to reinvigorate the economy. The Roh administration and the splinter ruling party are spreading unfounded rumors because they know Lee will make a competent presidential candidate.”

Q. Some say Lee did not really deliver well to the public what he wanted to say at the joint speech meeting.

A. “After the first round of meeting, Lee and his aides had a meaningful conversation about what to add and supplement. Some are not easy to change but things are getting better.”

Q. Due to series of bickering and bad-mouthing, many think the opposing camps of Lee and Park will have a hard time getting back on good terms with each other.

A. “The primary is like a soccer game played by family members. When the game is over, we will have to cooperate as one family for a new administration. Already many times, both Lee and Park promised before the public that they will “accept results of the primary and cooperate. Lawmakers from both camps will be hired for further work after the primary. No one will be ‘purged’ after the primary. ”

Q. Anything to say to the Park camp?

A. “The primary should be a venue where Lee and Park should talk about their strengths, not weaknesses of each other. This will make the nominated candidate more competitive also. Lee and Park should be judged fairly with policies presented by each lawmaker. Let’s make this primary a fair one where the loser accepts defeat.”

Park’s chief campaign manager Hong said, “We think we are 2-5% behind the Lee camp and we firmly believe that the situation can be reversed. The following is an excerpt from the interview:

Q. Park is losing more ground among the board of representatives than her party members. Why?

A. “Different people talk about different reasons. But until the primary date, approval ratings of party members and the representatives will be considered as coming from one source.

Q. What is your last-minute strategy?

A. “We will let the public know how Park can address issues related to economic revival, national security, and helping people in need. We will also promote within the party that it will be much easier to earn the hearts and minds of the people when Park is nominated as a presidential candidate.”

Q. You have introduced a phrase, “Lee will definitely lose, because Park will definitely win.”

A. “Party members will feel uncomfortable working to obtain votes from constituents for a presidential candidate who is involved in a speculation scandal of whopping 2.83 million m² land. We can score a definite victory only when we have a scandal-free presidential candidate.”

Q. Will you continue to disclose damaging information about Lee?

A. “In an advanced country, the media does this work strenuously. We raised an issue with the media and the media didn’t do what it should have done, and there were arguments from both camps. If we don’t do this thoroughly, we may not see a change of administration.”

Q. What would you do if prosecutors do not disclose investigation results before the primary?

A. “They definitely won’t do so. If they find weak points in a presidential hopeful, they will want him or her to run for presidency, and that is when they will unveil whatever they have found out. However, the public will know what they are trying to do is plainly wrong.”

Q. Some criticized that at the joint speech meeting and TV debate session Park’s camp focused on emphasizing the shortcomings of Lee.

A. “At no primary in advanced countries do nominees talk highly about themselves or each other. For example, splinter ruling party nominees lashed out at Sohn Hak-gyu.

Q. How will you make up with the Lee camp after the primary?

A. “When Park wins, we will put lawmakers and commissioners of the party association who have maintained a neutral stance at the center of the party’s harmony and unity.”

Q. Do you have anything to say to Lee and his camp?

A. “Camps should do everything they can to screen a nominee so he or she can succeed in a presidential election. Our camp has done this, so we have nothing to lose.”

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