The President, Mrs McAleese, would win an overwhelming victory in a presidential election against the Labour Party president, Mr Michael D. Higgins, according to the results of an Irish Times/TNS mrbi poll, writes Mark Brennock, Chief Political Correspondent
In a contest between the two, 75 per cent would vote for Mrs McAleese and 10 per cent for Mr Higgins, the poll shows. Some 15 per cent have no opinion.
There is close to universal satisfaction with the performance of the President and voters are evenly divided on whether there should be an election when her term of office ends in the autumn.
With Mrs McAleese widely expected to seek a second term, the poll suggests she would receive overwhelming endorsement in all regions, age cohorts and social groups. Mr Higgins scores best among Labour Party voters, but at this point even in this group 69 per cent would back Mrs McAleese with 24 per cent supporting Mr Higgins and 7 per cent having no opinion.
Mr Higgins also registers higher support than average in Connacht/Ulster, reflecting his Galway base. There, 78 per cent would back Mrs McAleese, 16 per cent Mr Higgins and 6 per cent have no opinion.
While Mrs McAleese would receive 75 per cent of the national vote according to the poll, her support rises to 88 per cent among Fianna Fáil voters, falling to 64 per cent among Sinn Féin supporters.
The poll was conducted among a national quota sample of 1,000 voters at 100 sampling points throughout all 42 constituencies in the State last Monday and Tuesday. No candidates have yet declared, and Mrs McAleese and Mr Higgins are currently the only two candidates seen as potential nominees.
An overwhelming majority expressed satisfaction with the performance of the President. Some 88 per cent are satisfied, just 7 per cent dissatisfied and 5 per cent have no opinion.
There are marginal differences between age groups, with older people having a more positive view of her than younger voters. Satisfaction with the President's performance is highest among the over-65s (93 per cent) and the 35-64 group (92 per cent). Among those aged 18-24 some 77 per cent are satisfied, 13 per cent dissatisfied and 9 per cent have no opinion.
Voters are evenly divided on whether there should be a presidential election. Some 46 per cent believe there should be an election, 47 per cent that there should not and 7 per cent have no opinion.