Mr Ruairi Quinn and Mr Brendan Howlin are equally confident they can win the required majority of the 64 votes needed to succeed Mr Dick Spring as leader of the Labour Party next Thursday.
The battle to replace Mr Spring began within hours of the declaration of his resignation, when Mr Emmet Stagg and Mr Michael Ferris publicly pledged their support for Mr Howlin last night. Mr Quinn is not asking his supporters to make public declarations at this stage. Ms Roisin Shortall last night indicated that she would not be a candidate and wished the others well.
In a day of mixed emotions, Mr Spring formally informed his parliamentary party yesterday of his resignation as leader, which, by agreement, will take effect from noon tomorrow. The parliamentary party and general council will meet in Dublin next Thursday to elect his successor.
Mr Spring will address the general council of the party at a meeting today in one of his last acts as leader. Under party rules, the deputy leader, Mr Quinn, will become acting leader from tomorrow until the election.
At a relaxed press conference after his announcement, Mr Spring pledged neutrality in the leadership contest. He would definitely contest his North Kerry seat in the next general election, he said, and had "no plans" for any European or international role. As a back-bencher, he would do anything he could to be of assistance to the Northern peace process.
Mr Spring also signalled his willingness to serve in Cabinet again. "If there is anybody in this room willing to offer me a Cabinet position in the future, they will be pushing an open door", he said.
In a farewell speech to his parliamentary colleagues, Mr Spring charted the "significant role" played by the Labour Party under his leadership. The political centre in Ireland, he said, was further to the left than it was 15 years ago. Government programmes largely drafted by the Labour Party, with a substantial emphasis on community provision, had been adopted by virtually every other party and had formed the main thrust of government activity for much of that time. "That is no small legacy," he said. One of the first steps they had to take was to face the need for a realignment on the left. Labour and Democratic Left, he said, were two parties who now shared virtually all of the same values. "I believe that our two parties should be sitting down together, to seek the synergy and excitement that would come from a much closer relationship based on equal respect for each other," Mr Spring said.
The challenge now facing Labour, Mr Spring said, required new energy, new commitment and new enthusiasm. "It is for that reason, and no other, that I have come to the decision that the time has come for me to pass the challenge on to fresh leadership."
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, expressed his "regret" at Mr Spring's decision to retire from the leadership.
???ail and Labour, Mr Ahern also paid tribute to Mr Spring's long-time adviser, Mr Fergus Finlay.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Bruton, said that Mr Spring was a very talented party leader and minister - "patriotic, cool in a crisis, and loyal to his colleagues".
???anaiste and PD leader, Ms Harney, said that he had made an outstanding contribution to Irish political life, particularly in his work in the peace process.
The Democratic Left leader, Mr De Rossa, said Mr Spring had won his place in history not just for leading the Labour Party to unprecedented electoral and political successes, but also for his major role in Anglo-Irish relations.
Ruling out any merger between Labour and DL, however, Mr De Rossa added that he looked forward to working with the new leader in a spirit of co-operation "that will enable each party to advance and bring their distinct political philosophies and historical backgrounds to work for the development of progressive politics in Ireland. That can best be done by each party respecting the integrity and independence of the other."