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Simon Harris’ party, Fine Gael, now finds itself trailing narrowly behind its two major competitors: Foreign Minister Micheál Martin’s centrist Fianna Fáil, which stands at 21 percent, and Mary Lou McDonald’s left-wing Sinn Féin, polling at 20 percent.
Fine Gael had been leading in every poll since June, shortly after Harris, 38, succeeded an embattled and fatigued Leo Varadkar as taoiseach and party leader. Harris infused new life into the party, which has been striving to extend its unprecedented 14-year tenure in government.
The party’s election strategy has blank”>centered around Harris, promotional materials showcasing his face alongside the tagline: “A new energy.” The campaign has seen Harris traveling the length and breadth of the country, meeting voters and shaking hands at every opportunity, accompanied by a media bus provided by his party.
However, this personality-driven approach faced a major setback on Friday night.
During a visit to a supermarket, Harris encountered disability support worker Charlotte Fallon at the checkout line. Initially attempting to breeze past her, Harris found himself embroiled in a heated exchange when Fallon questioned the government’s insufficient funding for disability support services. Dismissing her complaints in a stiff manner, Harris awkwardly attempted to end the confrontation with a brief handshake before pivoting toward the exit.
Fallon wasn’t about to let the moment pass unnoticed. As Harris walked away, she called out, “Keep shaking hands and pretending you’re a good man.” Her words prompted Harris to turn back momentarily, but the encounter ended abruptly when she told him directly, “You’re not a good man.” Harris, visibly unsettled, ultimately walked away.
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