Fine Gael¿s support is slipping ahead of polling day Friday, according to the latest opinion poll.
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The Irish Times
/MRBI poll to published in tomorrow's newspaper shows support for Fianna Fáil unchanged at 45 per cent, with Labour and the PDs also unchanged at 12 and two per cent respectively. But Fine Gael are down two points to 21.
Independents are up two, Sinn Féin up one and the Greens are unchanged.
The Taoiseach's soar-away popularity climbed a little higher increasing by one point to 70 per cent. Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan will take some comfort from the leader satisfaction rating which shows him up three to 31 per cent.
But he is still bottom of the league compared to Labour's Mr Ruairi Quinn at 45 per cent (up three); the PDs Ms Mary Harney 57 per cent (up five); Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams 51 per cent (up three) and the Greens' Mr Trevor Sargent 35 per cent (unchanged).
The figure for undecideds fell three points to 12 per cent.
Despite all the parties warning the electorate of the dangers a single-party government and criticism of Mr Ahern's campaigning style, the latest poll shows the possibility of a Fianna Fáil majority government is not scaring electors.
Fine Gael's low standing and Labour's failure to make significant progress throughout the General Election campaign means that Fianna Fáil may be in a position to reject its coalition partner, the PDs, come the formation of the next administration. They have rejected the idea of getting support from Sinn Féin but may be able to call on an assortment of independents to support a minority government.
However, the outcome of the election is still likely to hinge on the outcome of about a dozen marginal constituencies where the battle for the last seat may not decide who leads the next government but who becomes the make-weight, if one is needed.
FF .........45 unchanged
FG .........21 down 2
Lab .......12 unchanged
Ind .........10 up 2
SF ...........7 up 1
Grn .........3 unchanged
PDs ........2 unchanged
Poll conducted from a national quota sample of 1,000 electors in 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the State on Monday. The simulated ballot paper technique was used
- All comparisons with poll conducted on May 4th 2002