He may have lost ground in the polls, but two hours into his trip to Tipp yesterday afternoon, Bertie Ahern was ahead by a piece of pottery, a football shirt, a large basket of cheese and a bottle of whiskey.
If he was feeling sore about the latest figures, he certainly didn't show it on his tour of the Premier County, as he tore through villages and townlands leaving a trail of unveiled plaques, heeled-in saplings and photographic reminders in his wake.
For the last few years, the Taoiseach has been charming voters up and down the country with his unique brand of bonhomie and self-deprecating dominance, spreading the Fianna Fáil message free from the scrutiny of the national media.
He likes it that way, and would like to keep it that way.
Of course, Bertie is never anything other than affable and welcoming when the outsiders arrive. If they ever do. Trying to get advance details of these very useful electioneering trips can be a frustrating task - schedules not finalised and security implications tend to be cited.
Funnily enough, these considerations don't seem to matter on the ground, where the local press has full knowledge of his itinerary and the dogs in the street can tell you where he's going next.
But as this election campaign warms up, Bertie's regular cosying-up sessions with the public, which have been largely ignored up until now, are set to come in for some closer inspection. Hard as they try to conceal it, headquarters people can't help sounding a little irritated.
The Taoiseach travelled by Aer Corps helicopter from Dublin. "That would be Bertie," a local man told us outside Thurles railway station, as the chopper flew overhead. "He's around the place today."
First stop was the tiny village of Gortnahue, where the Taoiseach opened a playschool in the community hall. He had a rather top-heavy complement of media handlers in tow for this.
It looked like the entire village had turned out for the occasion. Independent deputy Michael Lowry was there, too. The political turnout may have been overwhelmingly Fianna Fáil, but Michael was looking after his patch.
Children from the local primary school formed a guard of honour for the Taoiseach, who greeted them by running along the line and slapping their outstretched little palms. There were speeches, and the jersey and bowl were handed over. "That's a good whip-around size," whispered one of the media blow-ins.
Bertie was wearing his navy sawn-off Crombie, collar turned up against the cold. Things have changed, he remarked. "It's a decade or so since I was here before. Last time, I came in a horse and cart," he chuckled. With impeccable timing, the helicopter rose from an adjoining field and began the journey back to Baldonnel.
Without so much as a hint of pushing the party line, he had effortlessly stitched in the revival of Ireland's fortunes over the last 10 years. And who has been in government during all that time? The man is a genius.
Gortnahue's most famous son is Shane Long, a former minor hurler who is currently playing a blinder with English premier league club Reading. The Taoiseach was presented with one of his jerseys. "Maybe I can sign it along with Shane and give it back to the parish - I know you're having an auction."
Former minister and local deputy Michael Smith immediately offered his back for the Taoiseach to lean on while he signed. "I hope the ink doesn't come through," said Michael, always known for his sartorial elegance. "Watch your back!" quipped a voice in the crowd.
That's a bit late now for Michael, who felt the cold steel between his shoulder blades years ago when Bertie gave his job to someone else.
Yet more group photos, one of them under the banner of the local cumann. "He looks much younger in the flesh. The television doesn't do him justice," commented a lady looking on. We agreed Bertie has lovely fresh skin.
On to the Cooleeney Farmhouse Cheese operation. "We weren't breaking the speed limit," insisted one of the entourage. Not all the time, no.
It was a fleeting visit, but a nice one. Bertie congratulated the owners on their successful business, achieved "in this era of globalisation". That should please the Greens.
He told his audience he understood about the cheese from cows, but goats' cheese? "I don't understand the goats' cheese," he marvelled, every inch the lovable Dub.
Next stop, behind schedule, the Cormack monument in Loughmore. "We weren't speeding." Bloody outsiders.
There's a fascinating story behind the monument, a mausoleum to the Cormack brothers who were wrongly hanged for shooting a land agent in 1857. As the Taoiseach descended to view their coffins, local man John Egan sang a long ballad about the brothers, framed by the aristocracy for shooting the hard-hearted, philandering agent.
Onwards to Templemore - vacated a few hours earlier by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell - and more engagements.
Roscrea was next, followed by a few stops on the road to Limerick.
Bertie finished a long, long, day rubbing shoulders with Terry Wogan at the Person of the Year awards.
And still there's time to run the country.