MAIREAD McGuinness is leading the charge to be Ireland’s next president, according to a new survey.
The former EU Commissioner, 66, topped the Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll with a whopping 27 per cent of support.
When asked ‘if the ballot paper consisted of the below names, who would you vote for?’, respondents overwhelmingly chose McGuinness ahead of the likes of Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill, on 14 per cent, ex-taoiseach Bertie Ahern, on 10 per cent, and former MMA fight Conor McGregor, on just five per cent support.
Joe Duffy, who stepped down as host of RTE’s Liveline recently and said on Saturday he wouldn’t be running, got 10 per cent of the vote, while Peter Casey got five per cent.
Former Fianna Fail minister Peter Power received just two per cent of votes.
Four per cent said they didn’t know who to choose, while 23 per cent said they’d choose none of the above options.
Within the parties, the choices are mostly clear.
McGuinness, from Drogheda in Co Louth, faces a contest from MEP and former GAA president Sean Kelly as the party’s nominations open today.
However, the poll showed she has 35 per cent support ahead of Kelly on 11 per cent, if voters had to choose a president between them.
Asked which potential Fianna Fail candidate they’d vote for if they were selected, respondents were tied on 17 per cent between Bertie Ahern and former minister Mary Hanafin, with Peter Power on just three per cent support.
The same question for Sinn Fein threw up Michelle O’Neill as a clear winner on 18 per cent, with Gerry Adams on 10 per cent and North Belfast MP John Finucane sitting on seven per cent.
Among potential independent candidates, Independent Galway TD Catherine Connolly is the best contender with 19 per cent support.
This is ahead of Joe Duffy, who’s since pulled out of the race, on 16 per cent, Peter Casey on seven per cent, former WHO boss Mike Ryan on seven per cent, Conor McGregor on five per cent and senator Aubrey McCarthy on one per cent.
POLLING DAY
President Michael D Higgins’ second term will end on November 11, with an election required to take place within 60 days before that date as per the constitution.
This means a vote could be held anywhere from September 13 to November 10.
A nominee has to be an Irish citizen over the age of 35, be nominated by at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or by at least four of the 31 local authorities. A former president can also nominate themselves.
Fine Gael’s nominations will open today and close at 4pm on Tuesday, July 15.
In the event of a contest, an electoral college voting system applies within the party, with hustings held in late July and a postal ballot of members in August.
In all circumstances, the selected Fine Gael candidate will be ratified at an event in September.
