Kenny dismisses poor poll showing

FINE GAEL CAMPAIGN:TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has dismissed opinion polls which show Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell trailing badly in the presidential election race and said they do not reflect the response he has seen Mr Mitchell getting on the ground.

“I don’t believe these polls at all from the evidence that I have from the days I’ve been on this campaign with Gay Mitchell and his wife Norma,” said Mr Kenny during a canvass with Mr Mitchell in the English Market in Cork yesterday morning.

Mr Mitchell said he had the vigour and energy for the presidency that would capture the support of people.

“I’m not 20 points behind anybody. If you look at those polls, they are absolutely without precedent, swinging 18-19 per cent at one time . . .

“In the last general election 40 per cent of people decided in the last week how they were going to vote and it’s even more in the presidential election,” he said.

He predicted that the turnout may be less than 50 per cent. He was confident Fine Gael would ensure its core party vote turns out and with transfers from other candidates, he was confident he could win the contest. Mr Kenny said he planned to have talks with Tánaiste and Labour leader Eamon Gilmore next week regarding voting arrangements but rejected suggestions he was motivated by a desire to stop Seán Gallagher winning.