Ahern and Kenny target western regions

As the General Election campaign enters its first weekend, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny are targeting the support of voters in the west and mid-west today.

Both party leaders are visiting Galway, Limerick and Clare, although at different times.

Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte is staging a photocall in Dublin to draw attention to what he claims has been Fianna Fáil's worst election campaign in decades.

Tánaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats Michael McDowell is in Longford, while the Greens are launching a party policy on alcohol and Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams is publishing the party's women's manifesto in Dublin.

Meanwhile, the first opinion poll of the campaign has shown support for the so-called alternative Government remains the same.

The survey was carried out by Lansdowne Market Research on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, after the calling of the election, and while a lot of media attention was concentrated on the controversy over the Taoiseach's finances.

The poll, in today's Irish Examiner, indicates that both Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats on one side, and Fine Gael and Labour on the other, have the backing of 39% of the electorate.

The poll has Fianna Fáil with 37% support, down two points since September. Fine Gael is up two at 26%, while Labour is up three to 13%.

The PDs are down four to 2%, the Greens are unchanged at 6%, Sinn Féin is down one to 8% and Independents and others are up three to 9%.