Taiwan's James Soong (L), a popular senior insider in the ruling Nationalist Party, shakes hands with party secretary-general John Chang July 16 shortly before snubbing the party to announce he would run for president as an independent, a move that throws the March 2000 election wide open. Recent opinion polls have placed Soong at the front of the pack of presumed candidates, far ahead of the ruling party's carefully groomed choice, Vice President Lien Chan. Soong also leads the opposition Democratic Progressive Party's candidate, former Taipei mayor Chen Shui-bian.

JKP/DL/KM