Joe Higgins in the mix for third seat

THEY heard it like a whisper.

“Joe Higgins for Europe.

”It was consciously unassuming.

“Joe Higgins for Europe.”

And as workers in Dublin headed through the city centre last night they were met by a candidate making his case. It had all become real.

Last night the Socialist Party’s standard bearer, had his last chance to meet voters ahead of today’s ballot.

The Mulhuddart election candidate stood outside the GPO, with the statue of Jim Larkin arms outstretched in the background, as the Socialist Party volunteers fanned out across the city centre.

Higgins’s approach is quiet, holding out leaflets, but deliberately not to forcing himself on people. He just made sure the flier was facing forward and said over and over again: “Joe Higgins for Europe.”

Often barely audible above the bustle and buses, people came to him, wished him well, offered support and asked what could he do for them.

He was told all politicians were the same but others just wished to hit out at Fianna Fáil.

Some people stayed to chat and some just gave a clap on the back.

Many acknowledged their surprise at the polls which instead of writing him off put him neck-and-neck with Mary Lou McDonald and Eoin Ryan in the race for Dublin’s third seat.

But if people expected a panicked dash for swing voters that was just not Higgins’s style and it has not been how his campaign has run.

Last night there was no shouting, roaring or accosting, a fitting way to end his bid for a European Parliament seat.

Higgins’s campaign began in a small meeting room in Buswell’s Hotel. The light was too dim for the lone television camera. His director of elections, a helper and six journalists were in attendance.

There was low-key coverage afterwards, compared with the spotlight afforded to his contestants.

In Ireland North West Declan Ganley, another minority party candidate, could afford multiple campaign launches in cities across Europe.

The big parties organised frequent launches for candidates, manifestos and billboards.

And during the past month there were continual spats between the main parties which attracted most of the attention. Higgins remained on the outside, a column for the Daily Mail and group debates on radio were his main media outlets.

Crucially the only people who appear to have put him on a par in race are the voters who will make the decision.

Despite the persistent Fianna Fáil-Sinn Féin dynamic, last week’s poll was very real. The Socialist Party, will be in the mix for the final seat when the ballot boxes are opened on Sunday.

His budget for the elections was well publicised, €28,000, and it is reflected in the lack of glitz in his campaign literature.

But he had other resources to tap into.

In the past four weeks 100 volunteers signed up to help his campaign.

This is on top of the Socialist Party members already deployed to fight the four local election seats in Dublin local authority elections.

Outside the GPO two dozen volunteers, nearly all young and enthusiastic, gathered for instructions last night.

They were well marshalled by Higgins’s director of elections, Kevin McLoughlin, and sent off in pairs with street-specific maps.

McLoughlin told them not to shout at people, not to hassle people just “make it known who you are”.

And hour later they were to come back for a relaxed debriefing and a drink.

One woman headed home early aching from a childhood back injury. It was not her only war-wound with a large blister on her foot she gained during a leaflet drop in Phibsboro on Tuesday night.

Between conversations with people passing by (some from in the Dublin constituency others from further afield Sligo, Kerry, California and a man from Ecuador who recognised him from television) Higgins reflected on what a good tally today would mean.

“If Fianna Fáil were taken out of Dublin in Europe it would be historic,” Higgins said.

His campaign may have begun as a whisper, but if transfers fall his way the former Socialist Party TD will be in with a shout.