‘Twas the day before polls open when all through Leinster House not a creature was stirring not even a Senator.
Ho, ho, ho. This weekend politicians will start to find out if they’ve gotten a stocking full of votes or a lump of coal from the people.
The last poll of the election campaign dropped last night.
The Business Post/Red C poll had Fianna Fáil unchanged since the last survey on 21 per cent; Sinn Féin was up two points to 20 per cent and Fine Gael down two, but also on 20 per cent.
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Taoiseach Simon Harris was back on Instagram live last night saying: “It’s hard to believe but the general election is actually going to take place now in about 36 hours time.”
He added: “I’ve got to say it’s all to play for.
“There’s a poll out tonight that shows when you give people constituency ballots, Fine Gael is neck and neck for first place.”
Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald had more reason to be happy with the poll saying in an online post that it confirms “what we are feeling on the ground: The momentum for change is with Sinn Féin. It is growing everyday! We can do this together! We can change the Government.”
Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin did not reference the poll on his social media feeds, instead posting a clip of his interview with Virgin Media television last night from his pitch to asking voters to back Fianna Fáil.
Speaking of his party’s time in government he said: “In a period of inflation and conflict in much for the world we acted to protect Ireland’s interests and help families faced with rising costs.
“But this election is about our future. It is about how we can protect Ireland’s progress and implement new policies to tackle critical issues…”
You get the idea.
Martin’s party has been the most steady in the polls (The Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll this week also had it on 21 per cent, ahead of Sinn Féin on 21 per cent (up 1 point) and Fine Gael on 19 per cent (down 6 points).
But it seems that heading into tomorrow’s election there is nothing between the big three parties in terms of their respective support levels.
Of course much will depend on the complexities of the different dynamics in 43 election battlegrounds as to which one ends up with the most Dáil seats.
Fianna Fáil is probably best placed to do so but Fine Gael will be hoping that their fortunes can be revived following a blunder-filled election campaign.
Sinn Féin meanwhile, remains hopeful it can return the most TDs.
As reported in our lead by Pat Leahy and Jennifer Bray the party is appealing to people who have traditionally stayed away from the party to “lend us your vote” to remove Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael from office.
The call from the party’s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty came as the two government parties continued to focus on the threat of a shock to the Irish economy.
Critics dubbed the Fine Gael-Fianna Fáil economic focus, and their warnings about Sinn Féin’s tax and spend plans, “project fear”, but Fine Gael leader Simon Harris responded by saying it was “project truth”.
Election 2024 is the first without what had become a somewhat ludicrous broadcast moratorium.
We can expect a frantic day of campaigning across the airwaves, on social media, and of course on streets and doors around the country.
Polls open at 7am tomorrow.
Merry election day eve!
Best Reads
Miriam Lord is on the campaign trail - Mary Lou’s ‘chatty’ campaign trail style a world away from Dáil barbs
In his analysis, Political Editor Pat Leahy outlines how Fine Gael has turned to ‘Prudent Paschal’ as polling day looms
Patrick Freyne offers voters his “vibes-based guide to Election 2024″ and “From HR Pufnstuf to Battlestar Galactica, what can we learn from political television shows through the ages before we go to the ballot box?”
Jennifer Bray reports on how a row has erupted in Fine Gael in Wexford amid a claim of ‘old boys’ club’ favouring one candidate
‘I’m not going to comment on anybody’s inexperience if they don’t comment on my age’. The oldest and youngest candidates in the campaign give their reasons for standing in Election 2024
Taoiseach refuses to be drawn if Fine Gael claimed disability worker who confronted him had Sinn Féin allegiance
Sarah Burns outlines how the Greens have warned of spectre of ‘Mattie McGrath as environment minister’
A far-right candidate has been accused of assaulting the relative of political rival in Bray, Conor Gallagher and Emmet Malone report.
Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns is said to be doing ‘incredible job’ campaigning while pregnant. Senior party TD Jennifer Whitmore says: ‘Women have babies ... we have to support them if we want more women to run’
Still undecided?
Are you still undecided? No problem, we can help. Why not check out these tools and articles.
Constituency reviews: Every candidate listed, every constituency analysed ahead of voting.
Party Promises: What are the parties promising if elected and how do their manifestos compare - using this handy tool to find out.
Who should I vote for?: Compare your views with parties and candidates.
Meet the Voters: our correspondents have been out and about meeting real people and discussing real issues, including the views of the The Irish Times’ voter panel.
Playbook
Most of the main parties are holding their final big press conferences before polling day.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will be joined by senior party colleagues outside Government Buildings as she makes a “final appeal to voters to Vote for Change”.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will be canvassing with his party’s candidates in the Wicklow and Wicklow-Wexford constituencies.
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris will be doing broadcast interviews with Newstalk and Today FM and he will be campaigning in Dublin.
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik will join Dublin candidates to set out her party’s priorities at its final campaign doorstep.
Green leader Roderic O’Gorman will, according to a party statement, “present a strong pitch to voters to renew the Green Party’s mandate - to build on the Party’s major success as the active ingredient Government”
Richard Boyd Barrett, the People Before Profit leader, will be joined by party colleagues for his last media event of the campaign.
The Social Democrats may have held their final press conference on Wednesday but Dublin Central candidate Gary Gannon will be available to the media at a doorstep in the city centre today.
What the papers say
The Irish Independent’s front page headline is “Election Deadlock”.
The Irish Examiner’s lead is an interview with Taoiseach Simon Harris in which he urges transfers to centrist parties.
The Mirror’s headline is “Dáil I want for Christmas” and it suggests a surge in independents means it is likely there will be no government formed by Christmas.
The Star and the Sun report on retailers abandoning products linked to Conor McGregor.
Election Daily: will undecideds lend Sinn Féin their vote?
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