Left wing election races - One's to watch

national | politics / elections | opinion/analysis Saturday June 12, 2004 02:15 by Local Tallyman

Below are a few races involving those on the left that are well worth looking out for as results come in on Sat morning and lunchtime.

WATERFORD MELTDOWN POSSIBLE FOR WP
Workers Party in Waterford, currently have 3, will be doing well to retain 2. And there is an outside chance of all WP councillors to lose their seats.

WILL SWP CANDIDATES BREAK TRADITION?
Richard Boyd Barrett (SWP), will he buck the trend of previous SWP election results and win a seat in Dun Laoghaire or at least come close?

Similar story for the SWP's Brid Smith in Ballyfermot. She is not widely tipped to win a seat but could get a good vote.

SP TO MAKE GAINS?
The Socialist Party are expected to do very well in these elections. The SP should be confident of winning seats for Mick Murphy (Tallaght Central), Ruth coppinger (Mulhuddart) and Clare Daly (Swords). Daly is expected to easily top the poll and Murphy has an outside chance of doing so also.

Elsewhere the SP have good chances in Drogheda, Cork North Central, Dundrum and Howth. If the SP vote managment strategy goes well in Swords it could see Dal'y surplus going to elect O'Brien.

INDEPENDENT'S DAY
Joan Collins in Crumlin could do very well and is probably the best chance of a left wing independent being elected onto the City Council.


WEBSITES
In case indymedia doesn't keep bang up to date with the election results below are a couple of decent sites

http://www.rte.ie/news/elections2004/local_cons.html
http://www.ireland.com/focus/localelection2004/