US experts hired to fight the 'dirtiest' election ever
Wednesday January 03 2007
THE two main political parties have signed up US experts to fight the dirtiest election campaign of modern times.
Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have employed top-flight American spin doctors with vast experience of 'negative advertising' to win the dogfight for power.
The emergence of 'hired guns' from overseas signals a new departure for Irish parties.
The campaign is already set to be the most abrasive and bitter for decades with the main players planning to target each other with highly personalised campaigns.
The Irish Independent can reveal that some of the most feared strategists in America will enter the fray to advise the parties on how to emerge victorious from the bruising campaign.
Fine Gael is to almost double its advertising spending budget this year, splashing out an estimated ?3.5m on adverts, compared to about ?2m last year.
Fianna Fail is also planning to increase its spending.
A senior Fianna Fail party official yesterday admitted: "This looks like the beginning of a nasty, negative election campaign."
The influence of professional US strategists on the general election and public opinion here is certain to raise searching questions about the role of outsiders on Irish politics.
Sources say Washington-based consultants are almost certainly behind Fine Gael's launch yesterday of an unprecedented personal campaign targetting Michael McDowell.
The Tanaiste is the subject of posters detailing soaring crime figures alongside the ironic slogan: 'Everything is just great.'
It is understood that Fine Gael will also train its sights on other Government ministers.
With transport and health neck-and-neck with crime as the public's top irritants, Mary Harney and Martin Cullen are also bracing themselves for broadsides.
But last night Fine Gael denied it was engaged in negative campaigning.
A Fine Gael spokesman countered that crime was a major worry for the electorate and that Mr McDowell should be accountable.
But strategists from the other political parties dismissed the denial.
Sources said Fine Gael's campaign was almost certainly developed after advice from their US political consultants, Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner.
The agency is run by Stan Greenberg, one of America's most feared political strategists.
His previous clients include former US President Bill Clinton and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Fianna Fail retains Washington-based political consultants, Shrum, Devine, Donilan.
Bob Shrum is considered the top strategist in the US Democratic party.
But the target of Fine Gael's first attack campaign, Michael McDowell, said he was feeling "relaxed" about the prospect of a bruising election battle.
"It doesn't worry me in the slightest, being at the centre of the stage is exactly what I want," he said.
The US influence on Fine Gael's strategy is also obvious in the party's decision to feature leader Enda Kenny at a series of rallies in February and March.
Fine Gael hopes to attract as many as 1,000 people to each of the rallies which will build to the party's Ard Feis before the election is called in April.
Focus groups have told Fine Gael that people react negatively to Enda Kenny's appearances on television and that the leader can communicate more effectively in personal appearances. Speaking about focus groups, Mr Kenny said: "I will respond by having public meetings around the country.
"I will say: 'Come in here and meet Kenny and form your own view of the man you see and hear and ask him questions.'
- Sam Smyth
