Latest findings suggest opinion and reality may be poles apart

Political Editor Harry McGee believes the results of the Irish Examiner/Prime Time poll are beginning to suggest everything is not as it appears in East constituency.

THIS time last month, Fine Gael winning a second seat in the East constituency was considered as likely as Leitrim winning the All-Ireland hurling final. The party had made little headway since the nadir of 2002.

This was just one of those racing certainties that had been offered around as a foregone conclusion in the constituency. But, as the polls are beginning to suggest, some of these conclusions were on the money; others, maybe, less so.