Adams weakness was Ahern’s opportunity…

CHRIS Thornton muses on whether Sinn Fein’s day may have come (in the north) and gone (in the south). Gerry Adams RTE performance – strong on the peace process, weak on the Republic’s economy – “may have reinforced notions that Sinn Fein is defined by the North. This may give Mr Adams pause for thought. Like some African dictator or Free Presbyterian moderator, there was an assumption that Adams was president for life, if he so chose.” Sinn Fein may have received a bounce in the south in the past by appearing reasonable beside the DUP, argues Thornton, but with the end of The Process and the start of Real Politics – coupled with a Taoiseach-friendly Paisley – maybe southern voters don’t feel the same need to shore up northern-centric SF-republicanism any more. Is it time SF looked for a new leader, in the south? With the election over, is it time for Adams to start his presidential campaign?

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