CLEVER, articulate and ambitious, Pat Rabbitte enjoys the reputation of being a strategic thinker, a sharp operator and a dangerous enemy.
The Minister of State with responsibility for Commerce, Science and Technology has enjoyed a sharp learning curve since his days as USI president. The political and managerial skills he developed as a left wing student activist were honed and tempered as a national secretary of the ITGWU. Now, he has a chameleon like ability to merge with his surroundings.
Accused of trading his Marxist heritage for a government Mercedes, he replied: "We live in a competitive, market economy. Left wing politicians have a choice. They can sit in opposition, bemoan events and play to the gallery. Or they can participate in power and fashion a social market framework."
From way back, Mr Rabbitte has followed the lure of power, first as a member of the Labour Party; then as a trade union official and member of the Workers' Party. But he was never publicly identified with republicanism. Finally - closely allied to Proinsias De Rossa - he emerged as a founding member of Democratic Left. It was not an easy road. He won a Dail seat in Dublin SouthWest on the third attempt, in 1989, after seven years of hard graft and intense in fighting with the Labour Party.
As a result, his relationship with Mervyn Taylor, constituency colleague and senior Labour Minister, was redolent of broken glass. It improved somewhat after the 1992 election when some of Mr Taylor's huge surplus went to elect Mr Rabbitte. Mr Taylor's, decision to retire from politics will be a huge, relief.
Mr Rabbitte has a wicked tongue and an agile brain. He made an immediate impression in the Dail through short, sword work jousts with Charles Haughey. But in his thirst for publicity, he tended to exaggerate. Some of his allegations were rejected by the beef tribunal. And Fianna Fail still throws his Dail phrase "it will shake the foundations of the State" (made in connection with alleged Catholic Church interference in the Father Brendan Smyth affair) back in his face.
Seen as an obvious successor to Mr De Rossa as party leader, he has worked hard to make an impact in government. The brief of commerce, science and technology brought him into the area of consumer protection, as well as industrial development and education. And he has managed, on occasion, to outshine his senior Minister.
Some years ago, a critic at Leinster House described him as "the Michael McDowell of the left". But that image has faded with his Government responsibilities. And, there are only sporadic displays of the old verbal pyrotechnics. He cultivates the press but deeply resents criticism.
His supporters argue that his long standing commitment to democratic socialism is unchanged, merely muted by circumstances. But his critics note Mr Rabbitte's undisguised pleasure with the trappings of office and the increasing rotundity of his figure.