HUSTINGS: TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen's first foray into the hustings for the June 5th elections resulted in no real hostility being displayed towards him.
Given the political flak that his Government has taken over the past six months, the absence of awkward confrontations or heckling during the Taoiseach's half-hour walk through Dundrum yesterday could be considered an achievement of sorts.
However, the success of the canvas was relative and circumscribed. Minutes earlier Fine Gael's celebrity candidate in the Dublin South byelection, former RTÉ economics editor George Lee had passed through Dundrum Shopping Centre.
Lee wasn't mobbed, but people were going out of their way to go up and shake his hand and make small talk. It was evident that there is still a strong feel-good glow about his candidacy.
In contrast, in a carefully managed walkabout of Dundrum's main street and the shopping centre, Cowen encountered less than 20 shoppers. He stopped off at the campaign office of byelection candidate Shay Brennan and also stopped for tea and scones in a café on the mezzanine in the shopping centre.
One woman said she disagreed with dynastic politics (both Cowen and Shay Brennan belong to political dynasties). Another women commiserated with him for his troubles. A man took his two young sons up to Cowen's table at the cafe to shake his hand.
It was all very safe and you suspected that - with such a big media presence - the party's handlers were being extra vigilant to ensure that there were no hostile or embarrassing moments. Accordingly, it had none of the spontaneity of the earlier reaction by shoppers to Lee.
Cowen arrived by Luas at the Dundrum stop of the tram line for his first major public appearance of the election campaign. He was greeted by Shay Brennan, the son of the late Séamus Brennan, whose death has caused the byelection. His method of transport was apposite given that the late Dublin South TD was minister for transport when Luas finally became a reality.
A large contingent of Fianna Fáil politicians and officials were there, including local TD Tom Kitt, Senator Maria Corrigan, MEP Eoin Ryan as well as Conor Lenihan, the director of elections for the byelection.
The Taoiseach gave a long doorstep interview which was cautious, deflecting a number questions about his own position.
Asked was he worried about his position, his response was: "The fact is that this party is going to fight the election. We have excellent candidates. The party have made a decision in relation to this particular constituency."
The questioner rephrased the question. If you do badly, could you position be in danger, she asked. Once again, the Taoiseach did not engage.
"We are not contemplating any of that. We are fighting an election and we are entitled to go out and put our case the same way that other parties are putting their case. . . this Government will continue to implement the policies that are necessary," he said.
And when asked about George Lee's entry into the field, his response was also so careful that it bordered on non-committal.
"There were rumours floating around for a long time that maybe George would be putting his toe in the water . . . as a committed citizen is entitled to do. We have an excellent candidate in Shay Brennan who can build on the tremendous achievements of his late dad," he said.
