He may be out in front, but Norris will have to look over his shoulder

DAVID Norris could have waited before formally declaring his candidature for the presidential election that will take place this autumn.

The public hardly wants a six-month long campaign and I doubt too if the political parties are keen on the idea of having to gear up again so soon after fighting a general election campaign.

Maybe Norris is hoping to take advantage of that. If he can establish himself in the public’s mind now as the only real contender for the job then it might become difficult for the political parties to launch an alternative. Indeed some might not even bother if the public gets so used to the idea of Norris as president; they might just say let him have it.