On the day the fight started to get dirty they tried to get Adi Roche into boxing gloves. Her handlers were having none of it.
She was in a Drogheda community centre with the unlikely name of the Holy Family Boxing Club, but the people in charge knew that not every photo opportunity is a good one.
"She looks nice. . .and happy," was Grainne Flanagan's first assessment of the presidential candidate. After Ms Roche spent five minutes talking to her group she declared with all the conviction of an impressed 11-year-old: "She's very nice."
More stuff being sent to the Third World, more trees planted and more bins for rubbish made up the children's wish list for the Presidency. Plus "less school".
Ms Roche told them she was "listening to what you're saying and I'm thinking about it when I go away". If she got to the Park and did not do those things they could write to her, she said. They listened solemnly. Then 20 sets of inky little fingers crossed as she crossed hers for luck.
At the crochet circle, Ms Roche sat and took up a needle for a photographer. The women watched and then smiled approvingly as she threaded the wool through her fingers and made a stitch. It was "most relaxing", the candidate told them. "We might take it up on the bus as we tour around the country."
Then came a moment when reporters hankered for Albert. A line-dancing display complete with cowboy hats, boots and tassles. He would have loved it.
At Dundalk RTC a woman rushed out of the kitchen towards Ms Roche. "No, it's not you. It's this fella I want to see," she said pointing at Labour Party leader, Dick Spring. "I knew he was good-looking."
Ms Roche had a speech to give, but there was no microphone. So the speech - calling on the Minister for Education to give two home study days on election day and the next day - was shelved.
This was in marked contrast to her performance in Waterford last week when she leapt on a bench and addressed a noisy bunch of students without microphone, or script.
However, she insisted to reporters, she was not discouraged by the latest election poll.
At Ard Scoil Lorgan in Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, she told sixth years about her involvement in the battle against Carnsore Point, three years before most of them were born.
Asked if she had a legal background she said, "Just as Mary Robinson proved that you don't have to be a retired politician to become President, I would like to prove that you don't have to be a constitutional lawyer either."
At Lough Muckno House she met Joe Brennan, chairman of an action committee against a huge housing development around the lake. She took an envelope of information about their objections.
"Read it next month," Mr Brennan told her. "When you're sitting by the candle in the Aras," former Labour senator Ann Gallagher added.
In Cavan Urban Council chambers they extended the by now ritual welcome to the latest presidential candidate. "For a long time, we had four ladies in the team," Fine Gael councillor Andy O'Brien said. "Then a man entered it so the misogynists would have someone to vote for.
"I have to be honest and say I'm giving my number one to Mary Banotti. By my number two's up for offer."
Labour councillor Des Cullen apologised for the lack of councillors and officials, saying most had travelled to New York to "celebrate Cavan's victory over Kerry" in 1947."On a small pitch," Mr Spring said quickly.
To finish, Ms Roche was invited to add her signature to the book that included those of the three Marys: Robinson, Banotti and McAleese. Between the three candidates the council should now have two Presidents in its book, Mr Cullen said. "And hopefully it's you."