The race for the Park has turned into the battle for the Park. Although there is no executive power at stake, the recent tensions between the two main parties have turned up the political heat and the contest has become a struggle for supremacy, prestige and confidence. As one observer said, the blood is up in both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael and, despite some internal dissatisfaction, party members are united in battle. Both sides believe they are winning.
Relations between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and FG leader John Burton have reached a bitterness rarely seen before. Ahern has been damaged by the clumsy exit of Albert Reynolds and by the Ray Burke resignation. Losing the Park would give fuel to his enemies, who feel a non-party member should never have been selected. Bruton is smarting from the innuendo from FF that his side is responsible for the leaks about Mary McAleese. Although Mary Banotti is the obvious beneficiary, FG believes there is no reason that blame should be directed at it when two other parties were in power and had the same access to confidential documents. Bruton has less to lose than Ahern if his candidate fails but the euphoria in FG will be mighty to behold if it gets its first President - and a grandniece of Michael Collins at that.
Dick Spring, damaged by a bad general election, is further damaged already. Adi Roche was his choice and she has sunk fast. She was imposed on the party, and, to a lesser extent, on DL, and many believe had Michael D. Higgins been let run he would have done better. For Mary Harney a McAleese win would be sweet. She backed the FF choice in the face of considerable PD opposition and then has had to contend with Michael McDowell and his criticisms of the party and its support for the referendum on cabinet confidentiality.
Next weekend will be interesting.