May 25 2007
Update: still grim for Mary Lou
With all boxes open:
Ahern 36% Brady 3% Costello 12% Donohue 10% Fitzpatrick 5% Gregory 13% McDonald 9% Mckenna 6% Perry 2%Now it will be down to transfers. SF usually do not do well getting transfers as they admitted themselves on radio yesterday so this must have them worried. Many commentators think transfers will come from Bertie to his running mates but I still think Donohue will do well on transfers and may get the fourth seat. From talking to neighbours, a lot liked him on the doorstep and gave him a 1 or 2. Many in Stoneybatter, younger and older voters, opted for Tony Gregory or Joe Costello as their first, going on conversations. I read that 56% of Bertie's transfers last election went to running mates but I think a lot of his number 2s will go to Labour, FG or Gregory. Still you never know -- those 2s could dribble out between the candidates and SF could inch over the bar. But I just ran into an elderly neighbour who was delighted to hear Mary Lou was doing poorly. "They just parachuted her in here and expected to get her a seat," she said indignantly. I think a lot of traditional residents feel that way -- irked at Sinn Fein for thinking their glamour girl would automatically dazzle the residents.
4 responses so far
You must be glad to see the back of Michael ‘data retention’ McDowell.
I’m sorry to see him leave politics, though glad he won’t be in a position to be pushing for further encroachments on privacy. He has always been one of the most interesting and intelligent people in Irish politics, regardless ofwhether I agree with him on many things, and it will be far less colourful and thought-provoking place without him in the Dail. I think he overstepped himself on many points in recent months and was setting himself up to be punished by the electorate and thevote doesn’t surprise me in many ways. On the other hand, I quite like him on a personal level, as I know many did who deeply disliked his politics.
I guess the personal level is where journalists can form an opinion out of the reach of many ‘ordinary’ punters – I’m sure he’s not a malicious person, but he’s never come off in the best of light from what I’ve seen of him, though I enjoy his sharp and witty retorts as much as anyone.
[...] gets the good juice on why Mary Lou didn’t get in. Though Cyprian’s election does expose one of those nasty [...]