Alexander Lu, professor of political science at National Taiwan University, states that voters no longer base their choice primarily on political party. This is what has enabled independent candidate James Soong to remain a powerful force even after leaving the KMT. Whether he wins or not, his candidacy signals a drastic change in Taiwan's party politics.
相對地，總統民選也造成了政黨的弱化，台灣大學政治系教授呂亞力表示，選民不完全以政黨作為選擇的依循，使得從國民黨出走的宋楚瑜凝結了另外一股強大的在野勢力，不管他勝選與否，都將使台灣政黨政治重新洗牌。