Race for the Áras - Martin’s leadership is damaged

IT is almost impossible to believe that any previous leader of Fianna Fáil would have publicly offered the party’s support to a potential candidate for the presidency without establishing that the individual was fully committed to the idea.

The potential for humiliation would be far too great, especially if the person being encouraged was neither a politician nor a member of Fianna Fáil.

That scenario would carry too much potential to provoke destablising discontent within the party, especially as some very senior Fianna Fáil figures have repeatedly expressed an interest in contesting the election on behalf of the party.