Waterford's Fine Gael election candidates are, like the rest of the party, divided on the challenge to John Bruton's leadership.
With the sitting TD, Austin Deasy, stepping down at election time, neither of those standing for Fine Gael in Waterford next time has a say in the outcome of today's parliamentary party meeting. Both, however, have strong views on the matter.
Like his father, who led the failed attempt to oust Mr Bruton in November, John Deasy is adamant that it is time for a change of leader. Fine Gael, he claims, is going nowhere under Mr Bruton, who has "failed miserably" to give voters an alternative to the Fianna Fail-PD Coalition.
"I'm knocking on doors, and Fine Gael voters are telling me he has to go, and if he doesn't go they will not be voting for Fine Gael. That is a fact," said the Waterford county councillor. Young people were not being attracted to the party, and Mr Bruton was the reason for that, "because they do not find him an agreeable personality".
But is substance not more important than image? "In a perfect world that might be the case, but it's not realistic in today's political environment. Fianna Fail's support is holding up because Bertie Ahern is liked as a person, not because of his policies or record as a legislator."
His party colleague, Maurice Cummins, a city councillor, says he is firmly in Mr Bruton's corner and believes he will survive today's vote.
Mr Bruton, he said, is an honest, honourable and decent politician, "and I believe we need those qualities in Irish politics more than ever before". The leadership challenge was a panic reaction to an opinion poll.
"If you look at the figures you will see that Fianna Fail and the PDs have 41 per cent between them, while Fine Gael, Labour and the Greens have 40 per cent. That would indicate it's all to play for, and this at a time when the country is awash with money," Mr Cummins said.
He had received a mixed reaction to the challenge from party supporters and activists, with many expressing dismay that Michael Noonan and Jim Mitchell did not put their names forward in November when the previous no-confidence motion was proposed.
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