The Indo Daily: Mary Lou McDonald, Ireland's next president?
On Wednesday, Catherine Connolly officially joined the hunt, launching her Independent campaign for the Presidency, promising not to take her full salary - but looking forward to a United Ireland "very soon".
Ms Connolly defended a trip to Syria with Mick Wallace, Clare Daly and Maureen O'Sullivan when dictator Bashir al-Assad was in power, and said she was "right at the time" when she previously backed journalist Gemma O'Doherty for a Presidential run.
The Galway West Independent rejected the idea that she was the "continuity candidate" after 14 years of Michael D Higgins, for whom she wanted to be a running mate.
Earlier in the week former EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness predicted the presidential campaign will be 'full on' after being confirmed as the Fine Gael candidate.
'I am conscious of the opportunity and challenge ahead, given the very important constitutional role of the President, and the esteem in which the office is held by the people,' she wrote.
Today on The Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by Mary Regan, Political Editor with the Irish Independent and Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor with The Irish Independent, to discuss the current state of play in the race to the Áras and grade the candidates on their performances so far.
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