FIANNA FAIL leader Micheal Martin and senior party officials are mulling over a request from members of the party in Donegal to add a THIRD candidate in the General Election, Donegal Daily has learned.
It could mean Cllr James Pat McDaid may yet be added to the ticket.
It follows what party insiders have described as ‘disappointing’ private polls conducted in the county in recent weeks for the party.
It’s understood Charlie McConalogue has been doing ‘very well’ in those polls but former TD Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher has been ‘struggling’.
That aside, said one senior party member, Fianna Fail is not attracting any real momentum in Letterkenny and surrounding areas.
Glenswilly man McDaid failed to persuade the party’s Donegal election convention that that there should be a third candidate.
Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein are said to be delighted that Fine Gael has decided not to run Cllr John Ryan, leaving Inishowen a battle between McConalogue and Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn.
However Fianna Fail believes it is struggling in Letterkenny. While Deputy McConalogue will pick up some votes in the area, the party believes its best chance of a second seat in the new five-seat Donegal constituency is by having Cllr McDaid added to the ticket.
A number of meetings have taken place in recent days in an effort to get McDaid included. The decision rests with party HQ in Dublin.
“There have been open and honest discussions and a lot of soul-searching over the private polls and there is a new realisation that the party needs James Pat running,” said one senior party official.
Meanwhile Fine Gael is also facing a serious election dilemma.
It’s understood the party is seriously considering giving Junior Minister Joe McHugh a ‘free run’ at the county – and not adding a second candidate at all.
Party sources have described as ‘laughable’ any suggestion that Dinny McGinley will run again, and are also ‘not persuaded’ that Paddy Harte – son of former TD Paddy – should be added to the ticket.
In one private party poll in which Harte was included, he attracted just 3 per cent support.
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