A Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition is the favoured option of a focus group sample of floating voters surveyed in the northwest, according to research carried out by US polling expert Frank Luntz for RTÉ's The Week In Politicsprogramme.
The programme, which was recorded in Boyle, Co Roscommon, also showed a resentment among voters at missing out on the economic benefits of the Celtic Tiger and the negative effects of restrictive planning laws.
Last night's programme featured a group of 30 voters from counties Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Longford and Galway.
As in the previous episode broadcast from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, most of the focus group expressed support for a Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition, despite the fact that Labour leader Pat Rabbitte has ruled out such an option.
There was little if any support expressed for either a Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat coalition or a Fine Gael-Labour coalition.
After viewing the leaders' speeches from the recent party conferences, the focus group responded most positively to Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.
They also responded warmly to speeches by Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte. However, the ardfheis speech by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny was less well received, while Green Party leader Trevor Sargent received the most hostile reaction.
In the field of political advertising, the campaign by the Progressive Democrats - which features party leader Michael McDowell - was judged to be the most effective.
However, there was a negative reaction to advertising by Labour and the Greens. Their campaigns, which feature slogans such as "But, are you happy?" and "Ready for Government", were judged to be boring and lacking impact.
