Fine Gael presidential candidate Gay Mitchell today insisted he was still on course to win the race to the Áras despite recent poll showings that show him trailing far behind the frontrunners.
The latest Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll put Labour's Michael D Higgins in front with Independent Seán Gallagher second and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness a close third. Mr Mitchell's support had dropped to 9 per cent.
Speaking in Co Sligo today, Mr Mitchell said he was not "taking any heed of the polls" and believed he would be the first Fine Gael president of Ireland. He said polls "go up and down like yo-yos" and the electorate use them to "make painless protests".
Mr Mitchell denied that he felt let down or disappointed as the level of support he has been getting from Fine Gael members. He had no doubt that he would get the Fine Gael vote and he believed a lot of people from other parties would also be voting for him.
"In the actual poll it will be different," he told Ocean FM radio. "A lot of Fianna Fáil people are telling me they will vote for me. I am the nearest candidate to a Fianna Fáil candidate in terms of the beliefs I hold."
Mr Mitchell cited Adi Roche's 38 per cent showing in the polls in the lead up to the 1997 presidential election, which he said slumped to less than seven per cent on polling day.
Mr Mitchell denied his attacks on Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness had backfired or cost him support. "I have asked questions that needed to be asked," he said.
Earlier, Fine Gael director of elections Charlie Flanagan rejected suggestions Mr Mitchell's tilt at the presidency is doomed and reports the party was now running a damage limitation exercise.
"The party is foursquare behind Gay Mitchell," Mr Flanagan said. "Canvassing on the ground is only now hitting a high gear. We are in the first week of the campaign proper and a few negative polls are no reason to think that this race is run.
"There are three weeks left, plenty of work to do, plenty of miles to cover - and you will see a very different result on October 27th."
Taoiseach Enda Kenny, speaking in Dublin yesterday morning, said it was never too late for a candidate to win an election. "It's important that the party understands that this is a presidential election and therefore they have an onus and responsibility to do everything that they can, and get out the Fine Gael vote," he added.
Minister for Enterprise Richard Bruton said yesterday the poll results were "disappointing", but insisted they could be turned around. "We are getting in behind our candidate Gay Mitchell. I believe he has the qualities and the energy and the commitment. He represents a decency that I think people will look to and I think those sterling qualities will emerge as the campaign goes on."