By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter
President hopeful and former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan said Wednesday that the upcoming integrated party, involving the pro-government Uri Party, should succeed the Roh Moo-hyun administration.
Lee, 55, reaffirmed his stance for Roh's policy, saying, ``I don't think the incumbent administration has failed in managing state affairs.''
He mentioned, even after a merger with other parties, the combined party should follow and upgrade the political mind of the Roh administration.
Though Lee supported the possibility that the new party will emerge on equal footing between the Uri Party and its counterparts, his remarks suggest the most important issue is not to abandon the root of the Uri Party and Roh.
However, Lee's closeness to Roh is seen as a possible weakness in the election as the president remains unpopular with the public. Unlike many other Uri members, Lee is struggling to form an alliance of liberal forces with the sinking party at the helm.
The liberal camp, led by Uri defectors, is trying to form a nationwide alliance that includes the smaller parties. Former Uri heads Kim Geun-tae, Chung Dong-young and Moon Hee-sang held a joint press conference in late June, calling for a liberal alliance. The three left the Uri Party last month.
Last year, Lee ruled out the possibility of becoming a candidate after being forced to resign as prime minister in March 2006 for playing golf when he was supposed to be dealing with a national railway strike.
Recent polls show that Lee is second only to former Gyeonggi Gov. Sohn Hak-kyu as the most popular liberal candidate. Former Uri Chairman Chung Dong-young and former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook are following Lee in the national approval rating.