Two Macs set for photo finish - poll 18.05.07

Sinn Féin's Padraig MacLochlainn and Fine Gael's Joe McHugh are set for a
	photo finish in their bid for the last Dail seat in Donegal North East, according to a new poll. The survey commissioned by the 'Donegal Democrat' newspaper also indicates that Fianna Fáil could lose two of the five seats it holds in the county.
And it suggests that Niall Blaney, who dissolved the Independent Fianna Fail party last year to join Fianna Fail, will get only 11% of first preference votes. This puts his seat in Donegal North East at risk of going to Sinn Féin or Fine Gael. In Donegal South West, the poll indicates that Fianna Fáil Junior Minister Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher will struggle to keep his seat, with just 15% of the vote. This puts him well behind his colleague, Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan, Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley and Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty. A total of 500 people were surveyed in the two constituences by Millward Brown Ulster for the 'Democrat' on dates from May 9th to May 11th. The findings indicate that Minister Coughlan could top the poll in Donegal South West, with her surplus going to 'The Cope', despite a massive showing by Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty. Fine Gael's Dinny McGinley is polling at 26% - a full seven points clear of Doherty, according to the survey. In Donegal North East, meanwhile, the poll predicts that Fianna Fail's Dr. James McDaid will romp home with 26% of first preferences, followed by Cecilia Keaveney on 18%. It indicates that the third seat will be the subject of a very tight battle between Fine Gae's Joe McHugh on 17% of the vote and Sinn Fein's Padraig MacLochlainn, with 16%.

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