The China Post news staff
At a campaign rally in Miaoli, Ma said the Kuomintang did not rule Taiwan well and lost power in 2000. Chen Shui-bian was elected to effect the first change of government in 50 years.
The ruling Democratic Progressive Party did even worse over the past seven years, Ma went on.
"Those who haven't done well should be replaced," Ma pointed out.
Voters will go to the polls on March 22 next year to elect a new president to succeed Chen Shui-bian, who has to step down on May 20.
"Now that the ruling party has lost the hearts of the people and is morally incapacitated," Ma said, "it has to be replaced and the Kuomintang has to come into power."
Ma also snubbed his DPP rival Frank Hsieh who challenged him to a debate.
"I don't want to debate campaign rhetoric," Ma said.
Hsieh proposed a debate over Taiwan's admission to the United Nations in his first public appearance last month after a 10-day self-seclusion.
He wants Taiwan to join that world body as Taiwan. Ma's Kuomintang has also proposed a referendum on a return to the United Nations as the Republic of China, deprived of membership in 1971.
When Ma didn't accept the challenge, Hsieh fired a broadside, all but calling the Kuomintang candidate a chicken who dared not mention the name Taiwan.
On Saturday, it's Ma's turn to tease Hsieh. Ma said he felt "ignored" while Hsieh and President Chen Shui-bian were trading charges of irresponsibility over the conduct of relations across the Taiwan Strait.
The gauntlet was picked up at once. Hsieh said he wanted a debate right now. He didn't specify the agenda, however.
Chen characterized Hsieh's "open door" to China as campaign rhetoric, Ma said. Chen urged the people to consider it as such and urged them not to take it seriously.
Convinced that Hsieh wants a debate over cross-strait economic exchanges, Ma turned down the request for the discussion by retorting it's an exercise in futility to talk face to face with each other over campaign rhetoric.
"Let Hsieh first specify what has to be talked about," Ma said. "Then I'll consider whether or not to debate," he added.