Ahern is Áras hopeful for FF backers

BERTIE AHERN remains the favoured candidate for the presidency among Fianna Fáil supporters but bookies still rank his party colleague Brian Crowley as second favourite for the post that comes up for election later this year.

A RED C poll of more than 1,000 adults has independent Senator David Norris as the choice of 27% of voters for the next resident of Áras an Uachtaráin, more than twice the numbers backing next best, Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness on 13%.

Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who announced a fortnight ago he will not be seeking re-election in his Dublin Central constituency, picked up the support of 12%, ahead of the 11% for Galway West Labour Party TD Michael D Higgins who has already expressed his interest in the party’s nomination for the presidency.