Green sees red at McDowell's lamp post lampooning

The election campaign descended into a shouting match today as Michael McDowell clashed with the Green’s John Gormley on a south Dublin street.

As the Progressive Democrat leader was climbing a Ranelagh lamppost with an election poster, replicating a trick from the last campaign, his photocall attracted some unwanted attention.

The Green Party candidate heckled his opponent in front of the assembled media, before the two began trading insults.

“You say that we’re going to raise corporation tax. That it is a lie. Withdraw that,” shouted Mr Gormley. “I’m not taking any nonsense from you any more.”

As journalists looked on, Mr McDowell dismissed the Green politician claiming he had lost it.

“No no, you’re the one who’s losing it,” Mr Gormley said, as the pair came face-to-face.

“Michael I’m sick and tired of this. It’s just smear and negativity. That’s all you can do. Where are your positive ideas? It’s bye-bye to the PDs. You are history.”

However, as Mr Gormley’s phone rang, Mr McDowell retorted: “It’s your friends calling to tell you not to make a fool of yourself.”

The Green replied: “You’re the one who’s been making a fool of himself. You’ve gone ga-ga over the past couple of weeks.”

Criticising the alternative government coalition, Mr McDowell said: “A vote for the rainbow is a vote for a government in which left wing parties will be the driving force.”

The PD photocall was based on a famous stunt from the 2002 general election campaign, when Mr McDowell was pictured climbing a pole in Ranelagh with a poster declaring: ’One party government – no thanks.’

Asked if he was today reliving old political glories, he said: “This is a determination to crystallise the real issues in this election and that’s whether Pat Rabbitte is Minister for Finance and whether we have a left dominated rainbow coalition.”

As the frenzy came to a close, Fine Gael’s Lucinda Creighton appeared at the scene.

“This is the second time that McDowell has perched himself on top of a ladder in his own constituency in a bid to generate a little publicity – does he realise that people are sick and tired of his acrobatics?”