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Martin McGuinness tops RTE Irish presidency poll

David Norris follows closely behind

By
DARA KELLY,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 7:04 AM
Updated Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 7:04 AM

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Sinn Fein Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness
Sinn Fein Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness
Photo by Molly Muldoon


Sinn Fein’s presidential candidate Martin McGuinness has topped a poll on the RTE Radio’s Joe Duffy programme, with 5,947 votes.

Over 22,000 listeners contributed to the poll on Tuesday in which they were asked to text their preference for the presidential nomination.

Senator David Norris was just behind McGuinness with 5,732 votes, but now looks unlikely to be nominated  on the ballot paper for the forthcoming election.

Fine Gael’s candidate Gay Mitchell received 2,668 votes, followed by Independent candidate Mary Davis with 2,314 votes, while Michael D Higgins got 2,194.

Dana received 1,424 votes and Sean Gallagher came in final place with 1,290 votes.
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Read more:

Presidential candidate Martin McGuinness claims he left the IRA in 1974

Presidential contender Martin McGuinness says he will represent the ‘whole of Ireland’

Martin McGuinness will be the Sinn Fein Presidential candidate
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Meanwhile Martin McGuinness’s entrance into the election race has once again highlighted the "major anomaly" that people living north of the border cannot vote in Republic, his Sinn Fein colleagues have said.

"A lot of people have been contacting me and us expressing their resentment, their disgust at not being able to exercise their vote in an Irish presidential election,"  West Tyrone Assembly member Barry McElduff told the Press Association.

"A lot of people have been contacting me and us expressing their resentment, their disgust at not being able to exercise their vote in an Irish presidential election," he said.

"People from all over the north are saying for example that Latvians can vote here in Belfast in Latvian home elections and there's this major anomaly, this major wrong, that citizens in the north of Ireland, Irish citizens, defined under the Good Friday Agreement as such, cannot vote in an Irish presidential election.

"You are allowed to stand as a candidate, you are allowed to become president but you can't vote, so it's a major anomaly that needs to be corrected," he concluded.
 

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See more: News from Ireland , Irish Government , Irish Politics , Irish Presidential Race ,
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11 Comments

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BARNEYKX | Sep 22, 2011, 03:35 PM EDT
PADDY POWERS BETTING ON IT http://www.paddypower.com/bet/politics/other-politics/next-irish-president?ev_oc_grp_ids=33552

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sirpeter | Sep 21, 2011, 09:36 PM EDT
Creaky.I understand what you are saying.And it is a bit of a risk to the peace process.But Sinn Fein need to show they can fall in with mainstream politics.Which they can do.They have to up their profile as a party for all the people.Don't be fooled.Everything that happens, happens for a reason.Governments are puppets and that why you think they are stupid.But that's your pig ignorant assessment.Been a West Brit been ignorant is almost genetic.They government depends on the vote.Your vote!! And yet they will dump private debt on your shoulders.That's why we need Sinn Fein in power.Because they will scare the crap out of Europe.Greece will not be allowed to default.The Germans can't have it happen.The Deutschmark would hit the ceiling,nobody could buy their sh*t.It's the end of the EU if it happens.Sinn Fein will just not pay and the Germans they will just be perplexed and say well can we own Rockall and Sinn Fein will say not a chance.That rock is Irish to the core.

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Rebelforce | Sep 21, 2011, 07:24 PM EDT
It will be refreshing for voters in the Irish Republic to finally have the pleasure of voting for a candidate who despises the inept political establishment in Dublin as much as they do.

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seanomelbourne | Sep 21, 2011, 06:18 PM EDT
Martin is the best candidate and according to the GFA people living in the N.E.(occupied Ireland)can apply for citizenship,therefore giving them full voting rights.They are been disinfranchised by free staters posing as irish.

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Towngate | Sep 21, 2011, 03:45 PM EDT
Imuverin: Of course I get it! The way the land lies at the moment,I just think he would be better served staying at Stormont to persuade the NI Electorate to Vote to join the Republic. That goal is a long way off, and I take this non-Sinn Fein,Independant stab at the Aras, to indicate that he knows that too!!! That is why I feel the Voters in the Republic will not fall for this Caper ~ however poor the other Candidates are.

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Gearoid4 | Sep 21, 2011, 02:42 PM EDT
Marin McGuinness will have a lot of hard questions to answer on the campaign trail for the presidential election, but his candidature will undoubtedly shake up the cozy establishment cartel that characterizes too much of the political life of the Republic of Ireland. I hope that he also succeeds in his aim to get the franchise for the Irish presidential vote extended to Irish citizens in the north of Ireland.

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deirdrekeohane | Sep 21, 2011, 12:18 PM EDT
Yes we do and we want Martin too! Exciting times! To all our brothers and sisters in the North, your vote will be soon!

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imuverin | Sep 21, 2011, 12:05 PM EDT
Towngate-- Don't you get it, we want a United Ireland. Martin McGuinness is the best candidate to make tht happen.

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greensod | Sep 21, 2011, 11:48 AM EDT
One step closer.

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Towngate | Sep 21, 2011, 10:43 AM EDT
As he is standing as an Independant Candidate for President of the Irish republic ~ why on earth should the North be allowed to vote ... it has nothing to do with Northern Ireland, as he will have no Official power there. In fact, this nomination will only emphasise the Border rather than erase it! ~~~ Although unlikely, if he is elected, just imagine the resentment and strife that will ensue if a section of the population in NI claim he is their President!! ~

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BARNEYKX | Sep 21, 2011, 07:47 AM EDT
im sure nobody is surprised at that after seeing some of the candidates

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