McDowell moves closer to crushing victory

THE momentum behind Michael McDowell’s campaign for the leadership of the Progressive Democrats was beginning to look unstoppable by mid-morning yesterday.

Though bookmakers had installed Liz O’Donnell as early favourite, the tide quickly turned in favour of the Justice Minister early yesterday. By the time more than half the party’s 13 TDs and senators had endorsed Mr McDowell, his odds had shortened to 1/30.

During the day, a series of parliamentary colleagues declared their support for Mr McDowell including Noel Grealish; Tom Morrissey; Kate Walsh; and Michael Brennan.