"Rather than expecting a major twist, the best we can hope for from tonight's first presidential debate is that it will finally give a sense of what this campaign is all about, Mary Regan writes Unlike debates in more recent elections, which were somewhat crowded affairs, tonight's will have just three candidates, which means a greater spotlight on each individual. Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin will be under most pressure."
"Despite being the celebrity candidate, as someone with no political record who is best known for being a GAA manager, his campaign has so far failed to capture the imagination. For Heather Humphreys, the main task is to stay out of trouble."
"Catherine Connolly is well used to airing her positions but those views will have a fully captive television audience tonight, so there will be a greater sense of how they are going down with the wider public."
Expectations for a major surprise in the first presidential debate are low; the debate is more likely to clarify the campaign's core issues and dynamics. With only three candidates on the stage, each individual will face a brighter spotlight and greater scrutiny than in more crowded debates. Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin will face the most pressure because his celebrity profile and lack of political record have so far failed to engage voters. Heather Humphreys' priority will be to avoid missteps. Catherine Connolly's well-known positions will now be exposed to a fully captive television audience, offering clearer signals of public reaction.
Read at Irish Independent
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