They left Palau on June 3 and have been to the U.S. mainland then to Hawaii and Guam before heading to Saipan.
They were scheduled to meet with the Palauan community at the Minachom Atdao yesterday.
Palau Vice President Elias Camsek Chin and his running mate Sen. Alan Seid visited Saipan last week.
Toribiong, a lawyer, said Chin and his other opponent, Senate President Surangel Whipps Sr., a business tycoon, are strong contenders.
“Chin as an incumbent official, has more exposures and opportunities to engage with the people while Whipps has his wealth and resources,” Toribiong said.
The other presidential candidate is Sen. Joshua Koshiba.
A former Constitutional Convention delegate, lawmaker and legal counsel to the Palau Future Political Status Commission, Toribiong said “the time is right for me to use my experience to help Palau overcome the economic challenges ahead of us.”
He added, “I have more to offer.”
Toribiong is Palau’s ambassador to Taiwan, and holds various positions in the government and the private sector.
He promises to maintain a “transparent, accountable and conflict-free administration.”
Like Chin, Toribiong also wants to strengthen the friendship between Palau and CNMI.
Toribiong said he would maintain the consulate or embassy offices in jurisdictions that host Palauans.
Before he left Saipan, Chin said he is counting on the support of the Palauan community in the CNMI, Guam, Hawaii and the mainland U.S.
Chin said he considers the states of Peleliu, Angaur,Koror, Ngaraard, Ngiwal, Ngeschar, Ngatpang and Aimeliik as his strong political base.
Mariur said although some governors and his colleagues in the House of Delegates are not openly supporting candidates, some of them are backing the Toribiong-Mariur tandem.
“They are happy that one of the delegates was chosen to team up with one of the presidential candidate,” he told Variety.
Palau will hold its presidential primary in September to select the two candidates for the Nov. 4 general elections.
President Tommy Remengesau has already served two consecutive terms and is constitutionally barred from seeking re-election this year.
