STEVEN CARROLL's sideways look at election 2011
O'Keeffe running away with 'most supportive' honours
AS POLLING day looms Campaign Trail has found a shoo-in for its award for most supportive running mate. Step forward Cork East Fianna Fáil candidate Kevin O’Keeffe, son of retired TD Ned.
An advert placed in a local newspaper asks voters to give Kevin their number one and, by recent standards, has a large Fianna Fáil logo as well as a picture and brief blurb about the county councillor.
Below are a telephone number and e-mail address in the right-hand corner sits what looks like the small print but alas it is a recommendation – “2 Ahern Ml”- Kevin’s running mate in the constituency – TD Michael Ahern.
Bookmaker Paddy Power puts Ahern and O’Keeffe in a dead heat for Cork East’s fourth and final seat at even money. With votes at a premium, Kevin may live to regret this bit of free advertising for his party colleague if he ends up being pipped to the post.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: ENDA KENNY
"For me, obviously, the real poll is on Friday"
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny responds to a Red C/Paddy Power poll putting his party's support at 40 per cent
Ryan refusing to nail party colours to the lamp posts of Dublin South
FIANNA FÁIL candidates have occasionally been accused of abandoning the party brand over the course of this election campaign for fear it has turned toxic.
One man who could tell you a thing or two about toxins is Green Party candidate and former minister for communications, energy and natural resources Eamon Ryan, who is contesting the Dublin South constituency.
A late postering campaign has seen Ryan drop his first name, abandon his party colours (green replaced by hot pink) and drop the party name and emblem entirely.
One poster says people should "Vote No 1 Ryan for clean energy and digital enterprise". Another says "Vote No 1 Ryan for honest politics".
When contacted yesterday by Campaign Trail, Ryan said the posters were part of a top-up campaign and that he was not attempting to abandon his party colours, even after four taxing years in government. "That was not my intention at all," Ryan said. "Pink has been used in a range of party material and on our website."
Conor hoping to cut it with the electorate
GIVEN THE showing of the coalition parties in the polls, it appears voters are angry and intent on punishing the outgoing Government.
Minister of State Conor Lenihan showed he was a brave and trusting man yesterday by allowing one of the electorate, barber John O'Loughlin, at him with a razor while on the canvass in Tallaght in his Dublin South West constituency.
A press release dispatched on Mr Lenihan's behalf included no fewer than a dozen barber- shop-related puns. "This election is on a razors edge and Ill be attempting to comb the area, gel with my constituents and sweep up the last few votes right up until close of polling stations on Friday night," he said.
Mr Lenihan, who topped the poll with 8,542 first-preference votes last time out, will hope his support has not curled up or dyed since 2007. If things do go wrong and Mr Lenihan finds his support trimmed, he many have plenty of time to mullet all over.
ELECTION ONLINE THE BEST BITS FROM YOUTUBE
Vincent Browne, aka Mario Rosenstock, makes a televised address urging voters to "get mad" about the State's economic affairs.
tinyurl.com/4aubdhf
QUOTE OF THE DAY: MICHEÁL MARTIN
"The five-point plan is full of black holes, ill-thought-out ideas and poll-tested policies that are designed to win votes and not solve the serious problems we face today"
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin on Fine Gael's five-point-plan