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.