Norris would still have had support in presidential race - survey

A majority of voters would still have voted for David Norris to become President had he remained in the race, a survey has indicated, despite controversy over his seeking clemency for an ex-lover convicted of statutory rape.

The Senator bowed out of the campaign this week after it emerged he wrote a letter to an Israeli court seeking clemency for his former partner, who had been convicted of statutory rape.

Of the 800 people surveyed by radio station Newstalk, 53% said they would still have voted for Mr Norris, if he were still running.

Eighteen percent said they would vote for Labour's Michael D Higgins.

Seven per cent said they would vote for Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell, while 6% said they would vote for businessman Sean Gallagher and 5% for Mary Davis.