"Yet again, this was a fascinating contest and an endurance test for those who sought to become our Head of State. From previous elections, there was an adage that candidates shouldn't declare too early as their pitch would be picked apart during the silly season. Connolly has defied that notion. She displayed a lot of perseverance to stick with the task. Sinn Féin backing her instead of running its own candidate handed her the entire left-hand side of the political spectrum."
"Connolly had created the space though and was a credible flag-carrier for the left. It's not her fault that Fine Gael's first-choice candidate Mairead McGuinness decided to drop out on health grounds. Nor was it her concern that Fianna Fáil decided to pick a political neophyte in Jim Gavin who didn't last the pace. Read more from Fionnán Sheahan here..."
The presidential race turned out to be a compelling endurance test for candidates. An earlier adage warned against declaring too early, but Connolly defied that convention and maintained her campaign through sustained perseverance. Sinn Féin opted not to run its own candidate and backed her, effectively delivering the entire left-hand side of the political spectrum to her. Connolly created political space and emerged as a credible flag-carrier for the left. Fine Gael's first-choice Mairead McGuinness withdrew on health grounds, and Fianna Fáil selected political newcomer Jim Gavin, who failed to sustain his campaign.
Read at Irish Independent
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