So the baton of leadership of the Progressive Democrats is to pass to Michael McDowell today. For good or ill, for the party and the country, it should never have been otherwise. Some 21 years ago, he was a founder-member of the PDs, with Des O'Malley, Mary Harney and Bobby Molloy on the public stage, and Paul Mackay - the treasurer - behind the scenes. Opposite the candidates in the background to challenge him, Liz O'Donnell and Tom Parlon, he deserves to become leader.
Mr McDowell has been the intellectual powerhouse behind the PDs since their formation. He was always their foremost strategist. Des O'Malley brought political authority and Mary Harney had the oratorial skills to reach out to the people, but McDowell was the ideas man. It was he, more than any other founding member, who saw the political space for the emergence of the PDs on issues such as taxation and the economy. He deserves a run at the leadership, if only for that reason.
But that is not to say that he will be a good leader of a small party with less than 5 per cent support from the electorate. Therein lies his challenge. His views are strong and uncompromising, even open to a right-wing caricature. His judgment can be flawed. He, more than any other member of the Fianna Fáil/PD Government, has done a public service by challenging Sinn Féin on its democratic credentials. He led a campaign to limit citizenship in a referendum and won the support of the people. He proposed that ordinary citizens would become members of a Garda reserve and, through his persistence and determination, won through in the end. Yet he was remiss - as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform - in not anticipating the outcome of, and the public reaction to, the rape case in the Supreme Court this summer.
Michael McDowell evokes very strong opinions among the public. But wherever one stands, it has to be conceded that he is a conviction politician who is committed to public service. He could be making millions of euro in tribunals instead of being a member of the Dáil.
For all of that, his election will change the dynamic of national politics as we head into the general election next April/May. His ambition for a separate PD identity will have to be tempered alongside a commitment to the Taoiseach that the Coalition will continue until next summer. He is right to allow Mary Harney to remain in the post of Minister for Health for the duration of this Government. This reform portfolio is not the liability which most politicians believe.
Michael McDowell has long held the view that the PDs must be radical or redundant. On that, he is correct. But, there is a downside to Mr McDowell which would be damaging to a party leader, especially one in the position of Tánaiste. In his new role, he needs to stop acting as an individual. He must take advice from those who support him. And above all else he must eschew the temptation to be the instant interview on every subject.