Mr Tom Hayes admitted he was a betting man, but the odds in Paddy Power's bookies in Cashel don't favour the Fine Gael senator in this week's Tipperary South by-election.
The bookies' front runner yesterday, at 13 to 8, was the Labour Party's Mrs Ellen Ferris, widow of the former TD, Mr Michael Ferris, whose sudden death three months ago resulted in next Thursday's political battle.
Presented with the bookies' estimate of his chances, Mr Hayes was quick to point out how much ground he had gained from last week when a local newspaper put him last in the field of four main candidates, which also includes Fianna Fail's Mr Barry O'Brien and the Independent, Mr Seamus Healy.
"At the beginning of this campaign I was a no-hoper, I was a grand fella, I was this sort of thing, but I'm up with them now. Two local newspapers gave it to me last night. That's the real barometer," he said during a brief pause in his teatime canvas of Cashel.
Mr Hayes said his "massive campaign" had allowed him to "touch the nerves of the people in the constituency because I know their needs. I am the only Oireachtas member standing."
He said he knew the problems of every town in the constituency and had support in every single area. "My support in Cashel was solid last week, but is rock solid this week," he added, unashamedly delivering his campaign slogan.
Out to help Mr Hayes's canvass throughout the 53,000-vote constituency yesterday were his party leader, Mr John Bruton, his schoolteacher wife, Marian, and TDs including Ms Nora Owen.
Mr Hayes set the pace down Cashel's sunny Main Street, shaking hands, cajoling and gossiping as he strode in and out of bars and shops. In Brosnan's bar supporters of the Cashel hurling team were drowning their sorrows after being beaten at the weekend by Mr Hayes's town team of Golden, the first such success in 25 years. "It's the wrong place for you to look for votes," joked one Cashel supporter.
Mr Bruton's confidence in his candidate was as firm as Mr Hayes's insistence that the leader's future was not riding on the by-election outcome. Several party sources had said at the weekend that if Mr Hayes did not poll well on Thursday, there might be a move against Mr Bruton.
"I wasn't asked about John Bruton's leadership once, only by the media," said Mr Hayes. "No one at the doors has asked me. This election is about South Tipperary."
Mr Bruton dismissed as "unthinkable" reports of a transfer pact between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to prevent the Independent candidate, Mr Seamus Healy, winning a by-election which will be decided on transfers.
Mr Bruton said he had no comment to make on weekend newspaper reports that he was being pushed out. "These are anonymous sources being quoted by people, which have no validity at all," he said.
He also rejected suggestions that his leadership would be dependent on the by-election's outcome.
"No it isn't," he said. "The party chose me to lead them for the duration of this Oireachtas and into the next election."