Tales from the canvas 2.0

Last week of the canvas and we’re on the run in to polling day. The campaign has moved up a gear clearly. Campaigning is not what it used to be. Every campaign throws up its curiosity.  A while back it was common place to see notices on the doors to tell Fianna Fail not to call. Nowadays they’re gone.

But to the keen observer it is now clear that the electorate prefer not to discuss national issues. If you discuss local issues you’ll switch on a gear in some people that they never knew was there. From the construction at the Crescent in Wexford to the road to Castlebridge and the ongoing disruption due to broadband, local issues are back with a bang.

The other observation is that often homes are vacant when you call. The driveway is empty and curtains pulled, so it is a case of “sorry I missed you”. Two reasons spring to mind. One is that the homeowner is out at work. Activity outside the home  means economic activity. That’s a welcome change from 5 years ago.  Or just maybe could it be that once or twice the owner sees who’s at the door and prefers not to answer regardless of which party if any that is calling?

The weather is good for canvassing, rarely has a day been lost due to rain.  Labour is canvasing as a team of 3.  Other parties make their own arrangements. The late declaration of another independent is interesting. Micéal Ó Drisceoil is the only independent to put up posters and he may well have spotted a niche which may affect how independently minded voters might act.  Had his declaration come earlier he may well have given the established field a run for their money. It is hard to catch up when you declare late but let’s wait and see, nobody has voted yet.

So for the record there are now 14 candidates on the ballot paper

LAB        Bell Maura

AON      Cole Elaine

SF           Forde Tom

FG           Hegarty John

IND        Hynes Davy

IND        Kelly Leonard

FF           Laffan Garry

LAB        Lawlor George

FF           Murphy Colin

IND        Ó Drisceol Mícheál

FG           Reville  Angela

LAB        Ryan Joe

FG                           Walsh Ger

SOL-PBP               Walsh Tony

Polling is on Friday next between 7 AM and 10 PM