The campaign team of Frank Feighan are preparing themselves for a battle royal when it comes to the final seat in Sligo Leitrim.
Tom Mullaney is Feighan’s Director of Elections in North Roscommon and expressed a certain level of surprise as regards the vote that Martin Kenny pulled out of Boyle. ‘Although Frank did do well in north Roscommon we were hoping for a larger vote so as to give him a stronger chance of winning the final seat”.
Fine Gael members from the outset were always gearing themselves up to be in this position fighting for the final seat regardless of whether it was Thomas Walsh or Frank Feighan that was in the mix.
The fact that Marian Harkin could also be involved in the dog fight will add to the size of the challenge according to the experienced election campaigner.
Mullaney fears that some Fine Gael votes may transfer to Harkin from Thomas Walsh and not to his party running mate – and this could be a major factor in deciding the outcome of the final seat.
Votes could also transfer on gender and geographical basis and with Marian Harkin expected to secure a sizeable transfer from other Sligo candidates, her chances of success seem to be increasing in the eyes of many observers.
The opposite may apply in Leitrim where Frank Feighan will expect to pick up Labour transfers if they come into play. Feighan successfully fought two general election campaigns in the old south Leitrim constituency and his long-time friend and supporter expects he will be in the mix for the fourth and final seat,
However, Tom Mullaney believes the odds at present are not stacked in his candidate’s favour.
