‘Carbon rod’ beats candidates in poll

THE perceived lack of relevance of the presidency has been borne out in an online poll that put “inanimate carbon rod” as third in the race for the Áras.

The unofficial survey on www.breakingnews.ie has received more than 12,000 votes since it started last week, and claims the lifeless, personality-deficient tool has more support than almost all other would-be candidates.

The admittedly unscientific poll, which is still open, asked the public who they would vote for out of all the candidates for the Áras.

Of 12,383 votes — some of which came from people who voted more than once — Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness received 2,401 (19.39%) and David Norris 2,360 (19.06%).

They were closely followed by “inanimate carbon rod” which received 2,328 votes (18.9%), far ahead of the next options, “none of the above” (1,094 votes, 8.83%) and Dustin the Turkey (767, 6.19%).

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