Hung applied for the party nomination earlier this year in April. KMT polls released on Sunday showed she had over 46 percent of public support, passing the 30 percent required to run according to KMT regulations.
Hung's nomination still has to be confirmed by a convention of KMT party delegates on July 19th, but her bid has already been boosted by the latest island-wide popularity polls, which show she has soared ahead in recent days.
The latest survey conducted by Taiwan's TVBS showed 41 percent of respondents say they will vote for Hung, while 38 percent say they will opt instead for the opposition DPP candidate Tsai Ing-wen. There was less support for other KMT candidates, with only 35 percent saying they will support party's spokesman Wang Jin-Pyng. Many believe the latest polls have cleared the way for Hung's nomination in the party.
"This nomination is going to happen. I think that considering the opinion poll, there is no reason for any disagreement in the party. We must support the KMT's candidate. Everybody in the party should have this consensus," Yao Chiang-Lin, member of KMT Central Standing Committee, said.
"As the result of the opinion poll came out, all members of the standing committee are now convinced that Hung Hsiu-chu will be the candidate for the KMT," Shen Ch'Ing-Kuang, member of KMT Central Standing Committee , said.
