Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said she will not be changing her strategy in light of today’s opinion poll, which suggests she has a significant lead over Heather Humphreys.
Speaking to reporters this morning, she said “polls don’t win elections,” and said her canvassing will continue up until next Thursday.
She also said her campaign has had momentum from day one and said there was a disconnect between the official commentary and what was happening on the ground.
She said “more and more” people are engaging with her campaign and said they were particularly interested in getting a president to reflect their concerns, values and vision.
She said her strategy would remain the same from day one, and said she has been on the ground “every single day” meeting people.
Ask if the “race was hers to lose”, she said she was going to go out canvassing and continue with her message.
She said, “we’re all short of sleep”, and said she would continue to do what she started in July.
Ms Connolly made her remarks following a visit to a community group in Belmayne in Dublin.
Poll suggest Catherine Connolly is the clear frontrunner in the race to the Áras
Ms Connolly was also asked again about her trip to Syria and said she had never supported the Assad regime.
She said it was a fact-finding mission and said it was “absolutely educational” and “deeply upsetting,” and said he had no control over who was beside her.
She also said that she was “absolutely, firmly committed” to the EU, adding that the “rise of the right” poses a serious threat to democracy, and that there was an onus on all politicians to lead and not lead in a vacuum.
She said the first group of people she would invite to the Áras would be the “carers” who she said have been “utterly neglected”.
She also said she disagreed with commentators who, at the start of the campaign, said it was dull, adding that she did not see signs of dullness; rather, she said she saw people coming forward and wanting to be listened to.
Significant lead
Ms Connolly has built up a significant lead over Ms Humphreys in the presidential election race, a new opinion poll suggests.
The Irish Times Ipsos B&A poll indicates that Ms Connolly is on 38% support with Ms Humphreys on 20%. Jim Gavin, who has withdrawn from the campaign, is on 5%.
The survey of 1,200 voters, taken from Sunday to Tuesday, places Ms Connolly as the clear front runner with just over a week to go to polling.
There are still many people who have not made up their minds, with that figure standing at 18% in this poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8%.
Some 12% of those surveyed indicated that they will not vote while 6% intend to spoil their vote.
This poll also suggests that any second preference votes from Mr Gavin, whose name remains on the ballot paper, will split fairly evenly between Ms Connolly and Ms Humphreys.
67% of those polled believed that Mr Gavin was correct in his decision to quit the campaign.
Voters go to the polls on 24 October.
Gavin review
Last night, Fianna Fáil finalised the terms of reference for its review into Mr Gavin’s selection and subsequent withdrawal from the election.
It is set to complete its work in four weeks and will be chaired by a barrister.
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Meanwhile, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he is supporting Ms Humphreys in the election given that neither himself or Jim Gavin are in the race.
Speaking on Newstalk radio he said he has always found Ms Humphreys to be a kind, considerate and friendly person.
“A person who could do an awful lot of work on reconciliation and rebuilding communities, through her religion and her own involvement. She brings the positive thing of community spirit and understanding,” he said.