The Central Election Commission made an official announcement yesterday of the November special-municipality elections. With less than 90 days left before election day, it's still hard to predict which candidates will emerge as winners in the end.

At 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Central Election Commission Chairman Rai Hau-min posted a notice announcing that the year-end "three-in-one" elections will be held on November 27th.

With only 88 days remaining until voters head to the polls to elect new mayors, city councilors, and borough chiefs in the five special municipalities, both the pan-blue and pan-green camps are stepping up efforts to win voter support.

Both parties hope to win all five cities, with the KMT looking to maintain its strongholds in the north and the DPP looking to maintain its strongholds in the south.

In regards to the Flora Expo corruption scandal, President Ma Ying-jeou said on Wednesday that the party would handle it in a similar fashion to the Taichung shooting spree, and that party officials will be taking part in Hau Lung-pin's campaign strategy meetings.

According to the DPP's latest poll, its candidate, Su Tseng-chang, has a slight edge over Hau and stands a chance of winning the election.

The KMT will have to win three cities in order for the elections to be considered a success.

With Xin Bei City and Taichung seen as relatively stable, the key to the elections lies with Taipei City.