Former Premier Su Tseng-chang is back in his hometown for this festive holiday. The politician was seen at the temples praying for new hopes for this New Year, and passing out red envelopes to nearby residents, who showed their support by calling out to him to run for president in 2012.

Pingtung residents gathered in force when they heard that former Premier Su Tseng-chang was handing out red envelopes.

Accompanied by his wife and Pingtung County Magistrate Tsao Chi-hung, Su visited Tungshan Temple and Tzufeng Temple on Sunday. Su grinned from ear to ear when supporters chanted for him to run for president in 2012, but did not directly respond.

Although Su lost the Taipei City mayoral election two months ago, some still feel he should be the DPP's standard-bearer in 2012.

Both Su and his chief rival, DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen, are planning island-wide tours during the Chinese New Year holiday. Some of their stops will overlap, and local DPP officials are at odds over which candidate to support.

Su and Tsai both attended the opening of DPP legislator by-election candidate Lin Tai-hua's campaign headquarters, but one departed before the other arrived.

While DPP officials have yet to endorse one candidate over the other, it is clear that party unity is a problem going forward.