Banotti compliments her rivals and leaves the sniping to others

There's an old Jewish joke that aptly describes the attitude of Mary B. in this election. In it, the will of a dead merchant is being read out to his family. The goodies are duly distributed, and then the merchant turns his attention to his less than grateful son: "To Junior, who always asked me to remember him in my will: Hi Junior!"

In Carlow yesterday, Mary Banotti was throwing out compliments to her rivals like confetti. Dana was "honest and dignified" and showed an independence of spirit. Adi Roche "epitomises" Ireland. Derek Nally is a "decent, public-spirited" man.

But what about poor old Mary McAleese? Hi Mary! But was there anything more than that in her script as Banotti appealed once more for the lower preferences of voters supporting the other candidates?

Or was it a case of ABM - Anyone but McAleese?

Would you not have a single good word for your main rival, asked RTE's Joe Duffy? "Mary McAleese has faced with courage a very difficult election," Banotti brought herself to say, before adding: "All elections bring with them considerable difficulties for all candidates."

Mind you, Banotti said all the candidates have had to face difficult issues and controversies. So what was her equivalent to being linked to Sinn Fein or called a Stalinist by ex-comrades?

The candidate maps out her own Via Dolorosa: "I was accused of a number of things in this campaign, largely because of a misunderstood remark on Questions And Answers."

The Fine Gael strategy is clear. Keep the candidate's head down and her arm outstretched. Leave the political sniping to the boys in the parliamentary party. Three weeks into this campaign, it has become easier than ever to spot the only professional politician in the race.