The China Post news staff and dpa
Ma, of the Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT), received 37 percent support, compared with his Hsieh's 22.1 per cent, despite the latest defeat of Ma's party in the Kaohsiung mayoral election lawsuit, the Taipei-based China Times reported.
The paper, however, pointed out that 41 percent of the respondents were undecided.
Of the 1,035 eligible voters polled between Friday and Saturday, 23 per cent believed the KMT presidential ticket of Ma and Vincent Siew would beat the DPP ticket of Hsieh and Su Tseng-chang, the survey conducted by the China Times showed.
Analysts said the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor classes in Taiwan has resulted in financial ruin for some people, and driving even entire families to commit suicide.
"This explains why So far Ma is able to lead his DPP opponent because more people are finding the DPP government incapable of improving such a situation," said political commentator Hau Han-chun.
Both Ma and Hsieh have responded to the result of the opinion poll.
Ma believed the rise in support for him was caused by the government's improper handling of the recent price increases.
"People did not see any actions by the government to stop the price increase in goods. The government paid no attention to it," Ma said. "The people did not see the government doing any self-reflection."
However, Hsieh had a different opinion on the poll during a conference held yesterday morning.
Hsiesh said, "The opinion poll rises and falls, inaccurate from times, should be for reference only. Everyone could have an interpretation of the poll on their own."