Democratic United Party candidate Rep. Moon Jae-in vowed on Sunday to closely ally with former independent candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, sending a reconciliatory message to Ahn and his supporters to ensure their continued backing for the liberal opposition campaign.

Moon promised to forge “people’s solidarity” through building a comprehensive campaign machine that encompasses Ahn’s supporters, and to work together to implement mutually agreed-upon visions for political reform, economy, welfare and peninsular peace.

Moon also said he will continue to work with Ahn in state management should he win in the Dec. 19 presidential election.

Ahn dropped out of the race last Friday as he and Moon failed to bridge their differences over merging candidacy. Moon’s campaign has since racked its brains to embrace Ahn’s supporters.

“We will forge people’s solidarity that will change the future of Korea, with all forces who support Ahn and those who have longed for a unified candidacy,” Moon told a press conference after registering his candidacy with the state election watchdog.

“Ahn’s dream of a new politics has become our dream. Based on this, we will strive to achieve a change of government and forge a new era.”

Moon plans to meet Ahn soon to discuss the merger of their campaigns and Ahn’s role to achieve their shared goal of a change of government, Moon’s aides said.

To pave the way for the new campaign machine, 10 top DUP campaigners offered to step down on Saturday.

For now, the most serious concern for Moon is the possibility that some of the centrist and swing voters, who back Ahn, could renounce their support for the liberal campaign.

Ahn’s supporters are mostly those who are discontent with established politics and hoping for a new form of politics that puts the public first rather than serving politicians’ self-interest.

To facilitate political reform, the two sides announced a joint declaration for new politics a week ago. But it appears to have been hastily cobbled together with each side interpreting its details differently.

The extent to which Ahn supports Moon appears to be a crucial variable in the neck-and-neck race.

“I don’t think many of Ahn’s supporters would immediately lean toward (Saenuri Party candidate) Park Geun-hye. They would have a slightly fluid stance for some time,” said Choi Young-jin, political science professor at Chung-Ang University.

“It all depends on what kind of a cooperative relationship he will form with Ahn. As Ahn’s supporters are largely discontent with established political parties, they may not be in support of either Moon or Park. In this regard, Ahn’s role is crucial.”

Ahn may eventually contribute to the liberal bloc’s achieving a change of government, should he want to bolster his political credentials and gain the opposition’s support during his political career, Choi added.

During his announcement to quit, Ahn indicated that he would continue to fulfill his obligation to bring about political reform, though it may be delayed for some time upon his dropping out of the race.

Ahn spent the weekend on a provincial retreat, during which he apparently thought about his next moves and role in the forthcoming election and beyond.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted on Saturday by pollster Embrain ― commissioned by JoongAng Ilbo ― found that only 55 percent of Ahn’s supporters remain supportive of the DUP flag-bearer. The same survey conducted a week earlier had shown that more than 70 percent of Ahn’s supporters would back Moon should he become the unified candidate.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)