While Mr Michael Noonan has the most public declarations from party colleagues for his bid, his campaign manager, Mr Paul Bradford, said yesterday no one in the camp was feeling complacent.
So far, 17 party members have declared their support for Mr Noonan, but Mr Bradford said most people are unwilling to declare their intentions. Mr Noonan was nominated last night by Limerick party colleagues Senator Mary Jackman and Mr Dan Neville TD.
Mr Bradford says Mr Noonan has been telling party colleagues Fine Gael needs change and he is the best candidate to carry that out that change. "He is telling them that those people who had the courage last week to risk all and to seek the new direction are the best placed to take the party where the party membership and the public want it to go," he told The Irish Times. "Those who opposed are not exactly the best beacons of change."
Mr Bradford said this was not meant as a negative signal to those who had supported Mr John Bruton last week. "No, it's that those who took a very difficult and painful and risky decision last week are clearly the ones to lead the party."
After Friday's election, he said, the party would have to be united behind the new leader. Mr Noonan was "not into auction politics" and "not one single person throughout the country has been offered one single role or position. He's not into buying the leadership but the team will be the best available in Fine Gael".
Asked how many people Mr Noonan would have on his front bench, he said he did not wish to reveal a figure but his candidate wanted "to make a much more dramatic impact by virtue of how Fine Gael will present its policies and politics. The best players will be on the team, regardless of what jerseys they were wearing all along."