The former IFA president Mr Tom Parlon is set to win a seat in Laois/Offaly for the Progressive Democrats, according to a constituency poll published yesterday.
An Irish Independent/Prime Time poll of the constituency predicted that Fianna Fáil would lose one of its three seats while Fine Gael would retain its two.
It showed Mr Parlon and Fianna Fáil TD Mr John Moloney fighting for the last of the five seats but that Mr Parlon would be elected.
The poll also predicted the election of Ms Olwyn Enright, who is running for the first time in place of her father, Mr Tom Enright, who is retiring from the Dáil.
It also showed Mr Parlon receiving significant transfers from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
Both men are running in the Offaly part of the constituency, while Mr Moloney's home base is in the less populated Co Laois.
The results were announced on RTÉ's Prime Time last night, but no details were given of the methodology, the numbers polled or the days polling took place.
The results in the five seat constituency were as follows: Mr Brian Cowen (FF) 28 per cent; Mr Charles Flanagan (FG) 17 per cent; Ms Olwyn Enright (FG) 13 per cent; Mr Tom Parlon (PD) 9 per cent.
Mr Sean Fleming (FF) 9 per cent; Mr John Moloney (FF) 7 per cent; Ms Molly Buckley (Ind) 5; Mr Gerard Killally (FF) 4 ; Brian Stanley (SF) 4; John Dwyer 3 (Lab).