The think-ins are supposed to be where the parties prepare for the hard graft of the parliamentary term to come \u2013 the budget, forthcoming legislation, political strategy and messaging.<\/p>\n
But this September, all anyone wants to talk about is the presidential election<\/a>. <\/p>\n Labour<\/a>\u2019s outing in Nenagh last week was dominated by the, er, difference of opinion between the former leader Alan Kelly<\/a> and the incumbent Ivana Bacik<\/a> about the wisdom of backing Catherine Connolly<\/a>. <\/p>\n Sinn F\u00e9in<\/a> leader Mary Lou McDonald<\/a> used her think-in in D\u00fan Laoghaire on Monday to declare that she was not going to stand as her party\u2019s candidate. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, at the Fine Gael<\/a> think-in in Mullingar \u2013 even though there was no sign of the party\u2019s candidate Heather Humphreys<\/a> \u2013 the presidency was the topic on everyone\u2019s lips. <\/p>\n They are particularly interested in the outcome of the Fianna F\u00e1il<\/a> candidate selection process on Tuesday \u2013 and there is an expectation in Fine Gael that the presidential election will turn into an old-fashioned Fianna F\u00e1il vs Fine Gael contest.<\/p>\n [\u00a0Independent presidential candidates outline their credentials to Kerry County CouncilOpens in new window<\/a>\u00a0]<\/p>\n Like most observers, Fine Gaelers expect that the Fianna F\u00e1il candidate will be the former Dublin football manager Jim Gavin<\/a>, who takes a big lead in declared support into the selection process. And like most observers, they feel that Billy Kelleher<\/a> will close the gap when the votes are actually counted, though not by enough to win the contest.<\/p>\n That would be the dream scenario for Fine Gael, if Kelleher did manage to confound expectations and overturn Gavin\u2019s lead. It would be a massive reverse for party leader Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/a>, a blow to his credibility and a signal that his authority in his party is all but shot. <\/p>\n In Fianna F\u00e1il, there is a belief that Kelleher will do well, but not well enough to unseat the leadership favourite Gavin. Both sides seem to share that analysis. But with such a high volume of votes undeclared, it\u2019s impossible to know for sure. <\/p>\n Once Fianna F\u00e1il makes up its mind, there will be two remaining sources of uncertainty about the presidential contest.<\/p>\n