Fine gael leader Kenny looks for voting pact with Harte

[upthepoll]

Heard a very interesting bit of news on the grapevine in Donegal North East, apparently the FG leader Enda Kenny approached a very prominent member of Cllr. Jimmy Harte's team to discuss the possibility of a voting pact for the forthcoming election. Kenny suggested that Joe McHugh would be willing to have a "Vote Harte no.2" message on all his election literature if Harte was willing to do the same for McHugh. This is very interesting given that McHugh fought tooth and nail for a single candidate strategy. I wonder does McHugh know about Kenny's approach to the Harte team? Does this amount to an admission by FG that their man can't make it? Is it an admission by FG that their single candidate strategy in DNE is flawed?
The news has apparently been greeted with mirth in the Harte camp.

[Inishowen]

Just confirms what everyone here knows anyway, Harte is Independent Fine Gael, or Continuity Fine Gael , or as the Harte family see it Real Fine Gael
But how would this local arrangement play nationally? Surely McHugh should be campaigning for No2s for Sinead McLaughlin of Labour, indeed he is going to need as many of her 1000-1500 No2's as possible.
The other thing is that it may turn some of the local Letterkenny votes away from Jimmy as it confirms that he'll be rejoining FG after the election, just like Twomey down in Wexford.

One way or the other, its a grand out rumour to play with.