McDowell moves closer to crushing victory
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.
But the crucial turning point came early yesterday morning when junior health minister Tim O’Malley announced he would be backing Mr McDowell.
Until that moment, supporters of Ms O’Donnell were convinced Mr O’Malley would support her in the event of a contest.
As of last night, none of the three putative contenders for the position — Mr McDowell, Ms O’Donnell or junior minister Tom Parlon — had officially declared their candidacy.
Mr Parlon said yesterday that he may consider running but neither Ms O’Donnell nor Mr McDowell made public comments yesterday.
Mary Harney said on Thursday she would not back any candidates.
The party’s two remaining TDs, Fiona O’Malley (Dun Laoghaire) and Mae Sexton (Longford-Westmeath) have yet to say whom they will be backing.
Ms O’Malley said yesterday that she was “waiting for people to declare”. She said she had spoken to several TDs yesterday but would not decide one way or another until the nominations had come in. Like many of her colleagues, she said that she hoped the matter would be resolved quickly.
Ms Sexton was uncontactable yesterday. However, Michael McDowell’s supporters say they are confident that both she and Ms O’Malley would back Mr McDowell’s leadership bid.
Candidates need to be seconded by another TD. As of last night, the situation facing Ms O’Donnell and Mr Parlon was that they would have to rely on being seconded by one another. The implications are that a three-way run-off no longer looks possible.
Sen John Minihan (Cork South Central) is the only parliamentary party member who is known to be backing Ms O’Donnell, though he has yet to publicly declare. He yesterday warned that colleagues should not rush to declare their intentions until the nominations are closed.
“I firmly believe people who are candidates for the leadership should be given space and time to reflect.”
Party chairman Sen John Dardis (Kildare South) is one of the adjudicators of the process and said yesterday it would be improper for him to publicly back a candidate.
