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Shock as poll suggests David Norris is favorite for presidency

New opinion poll shows Martin McGuinness back in third place

BERNIE MALONE,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, September 24, 2011, 8:18 AM

Updated Saturday, September 24, 2011, 8:18 AM

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David Norris

A new poll suggests that Senator David Norris could be well in the lead for Ireland’s race for the Irish presidency. The Millward Brown Lansdowne poll puts Sinn Fein’s candidate Martin McGuinness in third place with Labour Party candidate Michael D. Higgins in second place.

Norris has yet to win a nomination for the presidency and controversially withdrew after allegations he tried to interfere in an Israeli court case involving his gay former lover who was convicted of sex with a teenage boy.
However, Norris decided to re-enter the race and now looks certain to get enough votes either in the Irish parliament and senate or from county councils to enter the race proper

David Norris lead with 27 percent of the votes with Higgins taking 18 and McGuinness taking 15 percent independent Mary Davis also won 15 percent, with independent Sean Gallagher at 11, Gay Mitchell of Fine Gael at 10 and Dana Rosemary Scallon with only four percent.

Released on Friday the RTE poll was conducted online using a sample of 550 people. The company said the sample was weighted to accurately reflect the demographic breakdown of Ireland.

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Despite the fact that Norris has not secured his nomination as a candidate, he is well in the lead for the race to be President of Ireland.

Next week will see county and city councils around the country involved in 12 meetings to discuss nominating Dana Rosemary Scanlon or David Norris.

Nster.com

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13 Comments

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mandrake | Sep 25, 2011, 10:15 PM EDT

A shirtlifter who likes small boys? Is this what our Ireland has sunk to

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Towngate | Sep 25, 2011, 07:42 AM EDT

EDITORS/MODERATORS: BY REMOVING TREALACH'S COMMENT,YOU RENDER THIS 'THREAD' MEANINGLESS! Please explain.

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sirpeter | Sep 25, 2011, 05:54 AM EDT

Georgy boy.You already told us all about the dirty foulmouthed women you pick up in Ireland.Now you're saying they are foulmouthed hoors where you live as well.Georgy boy just stop buying it.

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Gypsies | Sep 25, 2011, 04:00 AM EDT

Shock? How could it be a shock? David Norris has been topping the polls since day 1. There are a hell of a lot of Irish people who want to see senator Norris as our next president. He is an honest, charismatic, knowledgeable, compassionate and good man, unlike most politicians. Unfortunately because he is gay, dark forces are trying desperately to smear his good name.

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stanJames | Sep 25, 2011, 03:51 AM EDT

I'm jsut thrilled that Norris might become Ireland president. Only the second gay person to be head of state. (Icelands PM is Johanna Sigurdardottir, a lesbian who married her GF in 2010. And thrilled I am, not just for Mr. Norris, but for the slap in the face to the church of the endless hidden molestation of children. which just the other day, these horrible people dared to tell Obama of unending conflict if he didnt bend over for the church. I think the church has had enough people bending over for it - espeically young boys and girls.

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GeorgeDillon | Sep 25, 2011, 02:41 AM EDT

Towngate: "she"---Is trealach a woman? That makes it much worse. Where I live the only kind of women who use language like trealach work the night shift.

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JBRAFTREE | Sep 24, 2011, 07:53 PM EDT

Ya can't believe those polls. Wait 'n see. I think older Republicans will vote for Martin.

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Towngate | Sep 24, 2011, 07:04 PM EDT

Poor old Trealach: in her red mist eagerness to 'diss' Norris, she failed to notice my quite deliberate use of lowercase 'c' and the term 'constituants'! ~ I might gall her to realise that somebody who is perhaps causing her to confuse her sexual identity, will possibly represent her and her country as President.

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KevinKehoe | Sep 24, 2011, 03:22 PM EDT

The President is stepping down. Long live President Martin.

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KevinKehoe | Sep 24, 2011, 03:11 PM EDT

On line my ass, they mean on line in Dublin 4, like all Millward Brown Lansdowne polls. A recent unannounced nation wide text pole on RTE Radio put Martin McGuinness in front, there were 22000 and not 550 in Dublin 4

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Irishphotograph | Sep 24, 2011, 02:47 PM EDT

Sinn Fein are owed the Irish Presidency. The English did not give the 26 Counties their Independence along with a bunch of Roses but Irish men and women fought and died. So I today can call myself an Irish man. Martin is from that same stock. He does have a RIRA/CIRA bullet with his name on it. For being part of the team that brought Peace to N.I.. I do think it would be positive for Ireland overall.

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Towngate | Sep 24, 2011, 01:58 PM EDT

Trealeach: The TD's and Senators backing Norris, represent their constituants throughout the country! Bernie is merely pointing out that Norris has lost none of his popularity or viability as a candidate my maintaining his poll standing ~ even after standing down. It will be a travesty if he doesn't even get to stand after leading the poll.

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GeorgeDillon | Sep 24, 2011, 12:31 PM EDT

I'd vote for Norris if I was in Ireland on election day, if only to p*** off bigots and homophobes like trealach.

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brent46 | Sep 24, 2011, 10:17 AM EDT

Fantastic! I've known you since my early days in Dublin and we met again during you impressive visit to Boston. You will make a great president of Ireland if elected.

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CanadianPat | Sep 24, 2011, 09:46 AM EDT

They polled the Gay Village! They like a good poll there!

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