Well, that is what Deputies John McGuinness and Bobby Aylward are desperately hoping for. With abominable opinion polls and an unprecedented week in politics for Fianna Fáil — they are now licking their wounds and picking themselves up just in time to hit the campaign trail with their tails between their legs.
Maybe we should be less cynical but gosh, it’s hard not to be! People are just getting their first pay cheques with the Universal Social Charge included today and the suffering just goes on and on. Will Mícheál Martin make a difference for Fianna Fáil in the upcoming general election? It’s hard to know. Are people willing to give Fianna Fáil another chance? We will soon see.
However, I think that maybe Fianna Fáil might do marginally better in this constituency than they will do nationally as both Bobby and John have a very loyal following. Their vote is definitely a personality vote rather than a party-following vote and over the past few months the two have been working on keeping the vote this way, as they know that this is the only way they will both get re-elected.
The election of Mícheál Martin as leader might now help Fianna Fáil regain some of its lost popularity. His first words being an apology was an excellent tactic, as it brought him down to the level of the ordinary person, he has shown that they have made mistakes, they are human, and they are willing to apologise. This could be seen as an admirable characteristic and might help in the vote getting.
The best that Fianna Fáil can expect to do at this stage is to not get completely annihilated at the polls. This was definitely on the cards last week — but the new leader and the stepping down of Mr Cowen might just throw a much-needed lifeline to the failing party.
Fine Gael are smirking from ear to ear, and in fairness if they don’t do well in this election they may as well forget it. Big Phil and John Paul Phelan need to get out on the streets and benefit from the horrendous week that Fianna Fáil have put down and they need to do it straight away. Labour are pretty confident but, as I have always said, they have a lot of work to do in Kilkenny — this constituency bucks the national trend in that as Labour is not hugely popular on paper. Seamus Pattison left a huge void and it has not really been filled. Ann Phelan would be a good addition to the national political scene and she is a woman, which is good for those that are interested in filling the gender gap.
However, we cannot forget that Carlow also want a local representative and Carlow people are being encouraged to vote Carlow all the way, regardless of party politics. This might just win them a Dáil seat although their candidates are inexperienced and lack some charisma. This would see Labour and Fine Gael fighting for seats here.
So it looks like we don’t have that much longer to wait before we get a say in who is leading our gloomy little country. Mid-February is looking like the most likely date now so bring it on and let’s get this show back on the road.
