Fine Gael ahead in the polls but Kenny can't land killer blow
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FINE Gael is the best supported party, but party leader Enda Kenny can't claim credit for it.
On 30pc, Fine Gael is holding their place as the leading party in the country, overtaking Fianna Fail amid the fallout from the economic crisis.
But Mr Kenny is failing to capitalise on the lack of popularity of Taoiseach Brian Cowen and his Government.
Mr Kenny's satisfaction rating is down as low as his predecessor Michael Noonan before the Fine Gael meltdown in the 2002 general election.
And Mr Kenny is the least trusted of the three main leaders when it comes to economic competence.
Although Fine Gael's support is up from the 2007 general election, it has only increased by about three points.
Fine Gael would still perform well in the local and European elections, if these figures are repeated on June 5.
But Mr Kenny's failings as party leader appear to be hampering the party from really benefiting from Fianna Fail's decline.
In a damning result for the Fine Gael leader, his satisfaction rating of 29pc is comparable to the 30pc achieved by Mr Noonan in May 2002 -- just a month before the party lost 20 seats in the general election.
After almost seven years as leader, Mr Kenny ought to be gaining traction. His satisfaction rating was last this low in autumn 2003, when the Government was still embroiled in controversy over public finances and shortfalls in tax returns.
Mr Kenny's popularity also took a dip in autumn 2006 at the height of the revelations over Bertie Ahern's dig-out payments.
The poll findings suggest that whenever the Taoiseach is under fire, Mr Kenny is failing to land the killer blow.
His lack of popularity is in stark contrast to that of Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore.
The perception of Mr Kenny's competence on the economy is also starkly illustrated by the results of the choice of leader those polled would trust most to manage the economy.
Mr Kenny finishes third behind Mr Gilmore and even Mr Cowen, who is suffering from record low polling figures in terms of his party, himself and his Government.
Only 21pc would trust Mr Kenny the most. Little wonder so that just over half of Fine Gael supporters favour holding a general election at this point to give a new Government a mandate to deal with the current economic crisis.
While a majority of 52pc want an election, when it comes to Fine Gael supporters, a less than resounding 56pc want to go to the country.
Either Fine Gael supporters don't want to get landed with current crisis or they are not confident about actually getting into power because Mr Kenny's inadequacies will be highlighted yet again.
- Fionnan Sheahan
