While Gerry Adams’ satisfaction rating is up a healthy 7% to 52% in the latest IMS Millward Brown poll carried out for the Sunday Tribune, it appears Dublin voters are enchanted with a different shade of Green. While Sinn Féin’s vote in the capital is 6%, down 3 percentage points from the 2002 Dáil election, the Green Party are at a whopping 14%, up 6 points from 2002.
The overall vote for Sinn Féin remains relatively stable at 7% (down 1 from October) with support in Connacht/Ulster at a healthy 11%, holding out the hope that the party can win at least one of the two seats it has targetted between Donegal South West and Donegal North East. However, Mary Lou McDonald’s hopes of a seat in Bertie Ahern’s Dublin Central constituency would be in serious doubt if such a result was replicated in the election, especially as she will also be up against seasoned campaigner Patricia McKenna of the Greens.
The survey shows the Fianna Fáil/PD coalition at 44%, a two point loss, while the combined Fine Gael/Labour /Green vote is at 39%, an increase of three points. The parties are as follows:
Fianna Fáil – 39% (down 3)
Fine Gael – 22% (up 2)
Labour – 12% (up 2)
PDs – 5% (up 1)
Greens – 5% (down 1)
Sinn Féin – 7% (down 1)
Independents/others – 10% (unchanged)
At 22%, the Fine Gael vote remains one point below the 23% showing at the 2002 election, while Labour has only gained a single point to reach 12%.
Fine Gael is polling just 16% in Dublin while Enda Kenny’s personal satisfaction rating of 39% is the lowest of the six main party leaders. When asked who would make the better Taoiseach, 57% opted for Ahern and 25% for Kenny.
With such figures, it’s hardly surprising that Labour leader Pat Rabbitte is giving mixed signals about a future coalition with Fianna Fáil.
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