Myths in politics, once built up, can be very hard to shake: particularly the one that Dublin's Lord Mayor, Royston Brady, is looked on by Bertie Ahern as a favourite.
If Bertie Ahern is Mr Brady's definition of a friend, one can only fear for the boundlessly energetic 31-year-old when it comes to his choice in enemies.
Members of the Taoiseach's Drumcondra cabal make little, if any, effort to hide their contempt for Mr Brady when his name comes up in conversation. He was blocked from running for a Dublin North Central Dáil seat once Mr Ahern decided that he would not stop Sinn Féin's Nicky Kehoe.
Mr Ahern can now see the benefit of removing Mr Brady, who is not running for re-election to Dublin City Council, from the domestic scene entirely.
Nevertheless, whether loved, or not, Mr Brady is today, according to a number of opinion polls, tipped to take a seat in the European Parliament elections in Dublin.
Backed up by a well-managed poster blitz orchestrated by ex-Arks Advertising executive, Mr Gerry Nagle, the lord mayor established an early dominance in the public mind. However, he may have peaked too quickly, supporters and opponents believe: "There is an awful lot of froth in Royston's vote," said one Fianna Fáil northside TD.
Besides being awarded the Lord Mayoralty, Royston Brady has achieved little, if anything, in politics, yet he has still managed to make himself a near-household name. The achievement, helped by bucketloads of copy in the media, is extraordinary: "This is about the Americanisation of politics. No substance. Just image," said one Fine Gael strategist.
Even his supporters admit Mr Brady, who failed to name the 10 countries in line for EU membership in a radio quiz last February, is no EU expert.
Flying below the political radar may be safe, but it will harm the Brady campaign if he becomes invisible in the media. Last week's Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, showed him with 18 per cent support, compared with just 13 per cent for his more experienced, but less prominent, running mate, Mr Eoin Ryan.
Many argue that figure will change. Faced with the prospect of electing Mr Brady, Fianna Fáil voters will switch allegiance to Mr Ryan, they say.
One of the myths about the election is that Mr Brady's campaign is fatally flawed because he is highly dependent upon the support of 18-24-year-old women, who will not vote. Certainly, The Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll showed that he has a female following, since 21 per cent of women polled chose him, compared to 15 per cent of men. However, he attrac- ted 22 per cent of the over-65s - the best voters in any age category; and he was getting 17 per cent of the 35-49-year-old group.
Already, the Taoiseach, spreading his political favours, has been out on canvass with Mr Ryan, and more such outings can be expected before polling day. However, not everyone is so sure that the tables will be turned: "Royston got out of the stalls early. He is the one with momentum in his campaign," one Fine Gael figure said.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael's Mr Gay Mitchell is set for election to the European Parliament, if his 19 per cent opinion poll rating holds or increases. In other times, Fine Gael would not have chosen the Dublin South Central TD for a role such as this, but the party has to get back into the habit of winning. Though clearly interested in, and knowledgeable about, the European project, Mr Mitchell will find it difficult to stay in Brussels if Fine Gaels manages to get into power next time.
Labour's Mr Proinsias De Rossa, on 14 per cent, is also still on course for a return to Brussels and Strasbourg, though his campaign has perhaps not, up to now, attracted the usual level of attention.
His running mate, Trinity College lawyer, Ms Ivana Bacik, has scored well in public appearances, though she has been blessed by the Government's decision to run the citizenship referendum on the same day.
Green MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna's campaign has only got off the ground in recent days since she believes that the public get bored if posters are up too long. She may well be proved right.
Now 10 years in the parliament, Ms McKenna, who scowled disapprovingly for much of that time, is deliberately projecting a happier image. A hard worker, she undoubtedly faces a tough battle to survive this time around.
For months, Sinn Féin was clearly very bullish about Ms Mary Lou McDonald's chances of election, though some of the confidence has drained away re- cently.
Her campaign has been damaged by the controversy about the possible release of the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe, though it is impossible to say by how much.
The other candidates are Socialist Party leader, Mr Joe Higgins, the Christian Solidarity Party's candidate, Mr Barry Despard, and three Independents: Mr Brendan Price, Mr Tom Prendeville and Mr Paul Doonan.
PREDICTION: FF (1); FG (1); Labour (1); Greens (1).