Catherine Connolly Dominates Presidential Election Race with Strong Lead According to New Poll
Catherine Connolly is emerging as a strong contender in the race for the presidency, according to a recent poll by Irish Times/Ipsos B&A. With just over a week left before the election, Connolly has secured 38% of voter support, leading her nearest rival by a significant margin.
Catherine Connolly’s Commanding Lead
The latest poll shows Connolly’s dominance, nearly doubling the support of her closest competitor, Heather Humphreys from Fine Gael, who stands at 20%. Jim Gavin, representing Fianna Fáil, has dropped out of the race yet still appears on the ballot with only 5% support.
Voter Preferences
- Catherine Connolly: 38%
- Heather Humphreys: 20%
- Jim Gavin: 5%
- Will not vote: 12%
- Will spoil vote: 6%
- Undecided: 18%
When excluding undecided voters and those who will not vote, Connolly’s support jumps to 60%, compared to Humphreys’ 32% and Gavin’s 8%. Despite Gavin’s withdrawal, Humphreys has not gained significant traction among voters.
Public Sentiment and Candidate Representation
Voter discontent appears to be a theme this election cycle. A striking 49% of respondents indicated they do not feel represented by any of the candidates. In contrast, 40% disagreed with this sentiment.
- 55% believe constitutional changes are necessary to facilitate presidential candidates.
- 45% think conservative campaigner Maria Steen should have had a place in the race.
- 67% agree with Jim Gavin’s decision to withdraw from the election.
Candidate Qualities
When surveying what qualities are most important in a presidential candidate, voters highlighted two key traits:
- Active engagement on issues: 39%
- Effective representation abroad: 33%
These attributes overshadow other concerns such as political agreement or party endorsements, suggesting a preference for candidates who are proactive and capable of international representation.
Poll Methodology and Accuracy
The Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll was conducted among a representative sample of 1,200 adults across 120 sampling points on October 12th, 13th, and 14th. This methodology emphasizes face-to-face interviews, with a statistical accuracy approximated at ±2.8%.
The results indicate that Catherine Connolly is on a steady path toward a potential victory in the upcoming presidential election. Unless unforeseen shifts occur in public opinion, she is poised to become Ireland’s next president.
