A new opinion poll suggests that the Sinn Féin candidate, who is one of the party's main hopes for the Dáil, may be struggling for the last seat in Dublin South West.
Sinn Féin had expected Sean Crowe to take a seat for the party in this constituency, which has been radically re-drawn since the last election. But the results of RTÉ’s Prime Time/Irish Independent poll carried out by IMS suggests that Fianna Fáil will retain its two seats and that Fine Gael and Labour will take the other two.
The poll predicts that FF's Conor Lenihan will be returned on the first count and his transfers will carry party colleague, Charlie O'Connor, over the line on the fourth count. The IMS poll suggests that the remaining two seats will be filled by sitting TDs, Brian Hayes for Fine Gael, and Labour's Pat Rabitte.
This suggests that SF will lose out with Sean Crowe failing to pick up vital transfers to boost his 15% first preference total. But perhaps the most significant finding of the poll is the boost it gives to FF, with the party apparently poised to retain its two seats despite the retirement of sitting TD, Chris Flood.
Meanwhile the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has again refused to name the date of the General Election. Speaking at the launch of a handbook on the election campaign in Dublin this morning, he jokingly told reporters that it could be on 17 May, 24 May, or 31 May.
However, he gave the strongest hint yet that it would be on a Friday, regardless of the week. Speculation is still high that the election will be on 17 May and that the Dáil will be dissolved next week.
