If promises were votes, at least two of the candidates in the South Tipperary by-election would be already past the quota.
Election candidates always claim to be getting a good reaction on the doorsteps, and for left-wing rivals Ms Ellen Ferris and Mr Seamus Healy yesterday, it was no idle boast.
One man in Clonmel went so far as to promise Mr Healy 17 votes in his household, while in Cashel, Ms Ferris appeared to have one or two supporters in almost every house. Each candidate is keeping a wary eye on the other, knowing whichever of the two wins more first preference votes has a very good chance of being elected on June 22nd.
Ms Ferris, who is seeking to retain for Labour the seat held by her late husband, Michael, until his death in March, says she's enjoying the campaign.
"It's terrific going around because I'm meeting an awful lot of people who knew Michael and who respected him. It's actually a healing process to hear all the good things that people are saying about him. It can be very emotional at times too."
No opportunity is lost to tell voters that she worked for her husband for the past 12 years and knows how problems are solved. "He taught me all I know about politics," she tells one householder.
Canvassing in his home town of Clonmel, Mr Healy is relying on his own high profile following a series of local election successes. A former mayor of the town, his Workers' and Unemployed Action Group holds four seats on Clonmel Corporation, two on South Tipperary County Council and one on Carrick-on-Suir UDC.
He is on first-name terms with almost everyone and the banter is flying. "The first man with a brown envelope will get my vote," jokes Mr Eddie Owens of Dillon Street. "Aren't I right?"
It's a recurring theme. Mr Healy, whose election leaflets bear the slogan "In Nobody's Pocket", says people are "disappointed and disgusted" at the revelations from the Flood and Moriarty tribunals.
"They want a change. They want to see honesty in politics again. That's a very major issue and one which will have a big effect on this campaign."
Ms Ferris is no different in seeking to capitalise on others' discomfiture at what the tribunals have revealed. One voter in Cashel, Ms Josephine Fitzgerald of Cathal Brugha Street, claims to have "a gift" for spotting dishonest politicians.
"From day one I was able to see through Charlie," she declares. So is the candidate in front of her an honest woman? "Yes, I know by looking at her".
Some offers of a vote are unequivocal, others less so. "I'm going to give you the vote this time and see how you perform," Mr Packie Leahy, a shopkeeper and former Labour Party activist, tells her.
While brown envelopes are frequently mentioned, there is no shortage of local issues. "People feel that they're not progressing, that the Celtic Tiger is having no effect on their lives, while other people are getting very wealthy," says Ms Ferris. Like Mr Healy, she lists housing and unemployment as two of the major local issues.
As an Independent, Mr Healy says he can have more influence in the Dail than any other candidate. But how can he achieve this without supporting the Government, as he says he won't? "The crucial difference between me and other Independents is that we have an independent organisation here in south Tipperary.
"We are putting pressure on the Government parties by our very existence, and by putting their seats at risk."
