having canvassed for a number of years, for both local and general elections, i can genuinely say that i've never come across anything like the contempt that's there at the moment for fianna fail. im talking about rural ireland here--ff heartland!

old people swearing in anger when talking about the government.
practically every person telling you that they cant wait until ff call to the door.
"anyone but the crowd we have now", is the catch-cry
teachers telling you that it was always ff, but NEVER again. (they mean it too)
people talking about the shocking waste of money on things like e-voting machines
100% of the people you meet are totally clued in to when the election is on etc

to be totally honest, i really dont know how FF candidates are going to go canvassing!

p.s. and this was BEFORE today's budget! BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID!

Well I've been canvassing for the past few weeks, and I'll admit that people aren't really yet in election mode. They were surprised to see me, and told me I was the first to call. I have to admit though, that yes, there does seem to be a very anti-FF feeling out there, and especially amongst people who told me that they voted FF all their lives, but not this time.

FF canvassers are practically non existent, with stories coming from the FF camp that some of their councillors are intending on canvassing by personal letter to former known party supporters, and as good as giving up on a general canvass altogether.

However, this was the feeling against FF up to a few weeks before the last election as well, when Cowen steadied the ship and won the election in a few weeks. It'll be very very hard to see what rabbit he intends pulling from his cap this time though. I think FF are looking at losing seats all over the country.

Well if anyone from FF (or the Greens for that matter) shows their face at my door they will get short shrift! I "lent" the Greens my vote at the last GE. I won't make that mistake again.

I called to a lady's door about six months ago canvassing for myself.

She answered the door with a potted plant in her hand.
I grimaced and introduced myself and party.
She put down the pot, smiled and said, I'll save that for FF.

I think the biggest problem FF will have is getting their canvassers out at all. What canvasser would want to put themselves through a nightly ordeal for the party?

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Whilst I don't fully trust all I've read above ... I think FF will have problem with vote mobilisation... normally polls underestimate them ... this time I think they may be over estimating

cYp

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I've knocked on hundreds of doors so far this time round and I've yet to hear an FF-defender. I take it those people are staying quiet at the doors.

I have got the odd "sure it would be the same for anyone in Gov".

One evening when I was leaving the house my neighbour was outside and she was shouting at this bloke giving it all:

"you and you F***ing kind" "you boll**ed the country" "lowlife scum" "you knock on me door again i'll get me son's after ye!" "

She wasnt letting him get any word in edge ways. Anyway after about another 30 seconds of ranting, She then scrunched up the leaflet she got and threw it back in his face.
she says to him, "Ive voted Fianna Faill all me life, me whole family have, but never bleedin again ye bas***d", and then slams the door in his face.

In a shocked and bemused state he then turns to me, and say's, "Im canvassing on behalf of the labour party and hands me a leaflet with Claire O'Regan on it"

I think it's fair to say things ain't going to be pretty for FF

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sounds like the people of Monaghan who were up in arms with FF about the loss of their hospital for five years before electing a new FF TD in summer 2007.

I don't believe people who say they have voted FF all their life but will never vote for them again. I remember waking up the morning after the last election to be shocked by the exit polls showing FF retaining 2002 level of support.

I won't believe public anger against FF until I see them in melt down at an election, and really I mean a general election.

Agreed. Never underestimate the stupidity of the Irish electorate.

I've had similar experiences in very affluent areas of south dublin too. Areas that were 18% PD and 40% ff. This weekend will be interesting on the doorstep as it'll be more normal people