The forecast was that up to 1,000 people would attend the Fianna Fáil inaugural election rally in Tralee last night.
But before the Taoiseach made his grand entrance, staff in the Mount Brandon Hotel conference centre were putting away chairs that were obviously not going to be used.
In the event, about 500 members of the party faithful turned out to set the election machine in motion. Still, it was somewhat reminiscent of the Fianna Fáil rallies of old, and pointedly, it was held in North Kerry.
The Taoiseach didn't arrive on the battle bus, that would be for another day, apparently.
Instead he jetted into Faranfore airport from where he was whisked by Mercedes to Castleisland to begin pressing the flesh, signing autographs, and telling a poor enough crowd on a miserable evening how nice it was to be amongst them in Kerry. Ahead lie three weeks of meeting and greeting and Mr Ahern seemed ready for them.
He noted wryly that when he went into the Dáil the other night to announce the election date, Man United were 1-0 up in the Champions' League, and when he left, the score was 2 all. Such are the events that will shape the Taoiseach's recollection of when this election was called, because, as he put it, "it looks as if we're scuppered," meaning Man United of course.
The term "scuppered" should not be applied to Fianna Fáil, the Taoiseach insisted, and nothing should be read into the fact that the inaugural rally was being held in North Kerry, where Sinn Féin's Martin Ferris stands a real chance of being elected.
Last night, Mr Ahern said he was confident there would be no upset in North Kerry for Fianna Fáil. But it would be a hard fight because the constituency was extemely competitive and nothing was being taken for granted.
Just like Fianna Fáil rallies in the former glory days, it took bell ringers to get the faithful away from the bars and into the rally proper. "Come on lads, it's not a GAA match," the party organiser shouted at the troops as the Taoiseach's arrival drew near.
Then it was lights, cameras and a jazz band as the top table filled up to tumultous applause. The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, gave the warm-up speech, the candidates in the two Kerry constituencies were presented, and then the Taoiseach took to the podium, outlined the Government's achievements over the past five years, and asked the loyal supporters to go forth and reclaim the party's seat.