Fianna Fáil has called on its 45,000 activists to attend party meetings around the State tonight in what the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, says will be one of the biggest political rallies ever.
Mr Ahern has directed that every unit of the party, over 3,000, should meet tonight to elect officers, put in place directors of election, and set out plans to support Fianna Fáil general election candidates.
However, Mr Ahern's own constituency of Dublin Central is the only one of the 42 constituencies where Fianna Fáil has not yet had its selection convention.
Nominations close at 5 p.m. this evening. The convention is to be held on Saturday night.
Party sources said yesterday they still had no idea who Mr Ahern's running mate would be.
Those in contention are Dr Dermot Fitzpatrick, a councillor and former TD; Mr Cyprian Brady, the Taoiseach's right-hand man in the constituency; and his brother, Cllr Royston Brady.
The Taoiseach's brother, Mr Maurice Ahern, had been mentioned as a possible contender but it is understood he feels there should not be two Aherns on the ballot paper in one constituency.
According to one constituency source, Dr Fitzpatrick has already been nominated, as well as Mr John Stephens, who ran as a candidate in the local elections and polled well.
It is understood that a number of people are backing Cllr Fitzpatrick, a general practitioner who lives on the Navan Road.
They believe Dr Fitzpatrick, who lost his seat in the 1992 general election, would be well placed to counter the threat from Sinn Féin candidate Cllr Nicky Kehoe.
However, it is believed that Mr Ahern may favour Mr Cyprian Brady, although Cllr Royston Brady, a councillor in the north inner city, had previously been considered the favourite.