Labour’s Ivana Bacik has declared the Dublin Bay South by-election a “three horse race.”
Pundits have been portraying the contest to replace former housing minister, Eoghan Murphy, as a ‘two horse race’ between Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan and Fine Gael’s James Geoghegan.
But Ms Bacik, who is a senator and law professor in Trinity, says she is getting a “fantastic” reception when out canvassing.
She believes she is now the third contender in the election to take place on July 8th.
Ms Bacik said: “I think the only people making that (two horse race) commentary are Fine Gael and Sinn Féin and they would say that, wouldn’t they.
“Clearly, they want to portray this as a two horse race, but any objective commentators, and there were several in the Sunday papers this weekend, they’re saying it’s a three horse race and that I’m one of the three.”
She added: “There is a clear cycleway through the two, between Sinn Féin and Fine Gael, who want this to be just about them and their parties.
“But that’s disrespectful to voters who actually care about the issues we’re hearing on the doorsteps.
“The issues around childcare, around housing, around community facilities, a huge issue across the constituency, lack of green spaces, lack of playing fields for clubs and local children.
“These are the things people want to hear about and they want someone who will represent them in the Dáil and will address these issues.
“So this ‘two horse race’ mantra is simply not borne out and it’s not what we’re seeing.”
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