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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Why I'm not running for Irish president ---a tough decision to pull out of contest

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Why I'm not running for Irish president ---a tough decision to pull out of contest

Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at 11:25 PM

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I have decided not to run for the Irish presidency.

The logistical challenges of running for an office as an independent against established political parties is incredible.

This holds most notably on fund raising. The race costs about $700,000 to run a proper national campaign. The main political parties can easily raise that.

The independent candidates have to raise it for themselves at approximately $9,000 maximum contribution per person.

That is a lot of fund-raising --especially as you are trying to run a national campaign from scratch at the same time for an October election.

The party candidates will also be chosen by early July allowing them to begin competing in the election proper.

The independents will not finally know their fates until September when either the county councils or the parties not fielding candidates will agree to back them.

You need either 20 members of the Irish parliament or Seanad or the approval of four county councils.

It is a complicated system which overwhelmingly favors the big guns in the main political parties such as Fine Gael and Labor.

Bottom line, unless they are completely terrible candidates either the Labor or Fine Gael contender will win the race

I told my backers I would take until the end of June to come to my best conclusion. I have now done that. They have loyally supported my decision.

Quite simply I believe the race is not winnable for an independent, any independent, no matter what the current polls say because the dice is stacked.

I think I have been around enough political races, either supporting my brother, now a minister of state in Ireland or campaigns here in the US to see that writing on the wall.

But it was a fascinating adventure which came about in a surprising manner and I think highlighted the Irish abroad in a new way

It was an unexpected detour on life's road and I have to say I enjoyed it and met some great people along the way including so many over here who wished me well.

Thank you for all your kind messages of support.

'Ar Aghaidh Linn' as always.

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casualMBA | Jul 01, 2011, 01:42 PM EDT

Niall, you are a voice a bit too far out in the wilderness to be heard by the people at home...My gratitude extended for your candidacy's highlighting (despite positive diaspora citizen initiatives) Ireland's pre-Hellenic forms of representation for its people abroad (i.e.,come home, visit, share your opinion, and investments, enjoy yourselves, and, for the love of God, be on your way)- while the nation hosts its next branded event guaranteeing the world it is moving away from the cultural core of our emigrated forebears.

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themurphia | Jul 01, 2011, 01:13 PM EDT

solyeant:ballotbox.ie ran a virtual poll for the disenfranchised citizens..i.e.the Diaspora...before the Irish GE2011...they will probably do the same for the Presidential election...anyone who has not already done so should register with ballotbox.ie to get your virtual vote...Hopefully at some time in the not too distant future we will get an actual vote...until then at least the 'voice' of the Irish abroad is recorded somewhere...

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oldboreen | Jul 01, 2011, 12:50 PM EDT

It was some spoof Niall! You milked it for all it was worth!

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solyeant | Jul 01, 2011, 12:18 PM EDT

Niall I am truly sorry to see this announcement and looks like the logic to retire was a lesson the irish govnerment should learn namley the downright overspend on running such a contest I am drawn to the theory that since we are all more or less fit to survive i this world the President should be drawn by lottery and if everyone gave €10 or €100 for the possibility the national debt and the fear of a Chinese acquisition would disappear I do hope this disappointment does not stop you realting the stories of irish valour chivallry , stuupidity etc Perhaps as i have done suggest a virtual Presidential Campaign for the same day election and read the minds of those too busy to attend a polling station for such wasteful frivolity Thanks

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jdi2269 | Jul 01, 2011, 11:33 AM EDT

INDEPENDENT???? REALLY????

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themurphia | Jul 01, 2011, 11:30 AM EDT

Broken arrow...?...just noticed that little freudian slip...I have said it before and I'll say it again Gerry Adams WILL be the inaugural President of as re-united Ireland...and quite rightly so imo...if that means he has to rain on other's parades then that's Politics baby...it's a dirty old game...!

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themurphia | Jul 01, 2011, 11:16 AM EDT

I've read the broken arrow blog...nice 'photo's of brit troops btw...I think from a crdibility point of view it would probably be better if Niall was a little more candid about his candidacy...!

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GeorgeDillon | Jul 01, 2011, 11:13 AM EDT

Pyramid: How could O'Dowd have trivialized it more than Mama Blather McAleese? She's an utter fool.

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biggles008 | Jul 01, 2011, 11:01 AM EDT

I don't know who to vote for now. I'm an ordinary "joe soap" and I'd do as good a job as any of the ones going for the job.A small house and €50,000 P.A. would do me. That's not the way it works.

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mandokeith | Jul 01, 2011, 10:19 AM EDT

Well, I guess if you are not going to run then I won't either. It would have been quite a time.......

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WalterEllis | Jul 01, 2011, 10:10 AM EDT

Those seeking an interesting take on Niall's withdrawal from the presidential race might wish to read The Broken Elbow, the excellent blog by Ed Moloney (author of The Secret History of the IRA) on: thebrokenelbow.com/2011/07/01/niall-otrump/

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Trealach | Jul 01, 2011, 10:03 AM EDT

At last the truth is out - you were never invited to run, and there were No backers - and you thought you had us all fooled - rofl.

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irishwriter | Jul 01, 2011, 10:01 AM EDT

There goes my shot at a cabinet position...

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Pyramid | Jul 01, 2011, 09:52 AM EDT

Do you know! I haven't even read your reasons for not standing. I'm just glad you didn't. I think you are extremly audacious to consider standing for president of the republic. Who the hell do you think you are? Your standing would have trivialised the highest office of a nation!

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themurphia | Jul 01, 2011, 09:41 AM EDT

At the risk of mentioning the 'bleeding obvious'...surely you knew that already...???

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