Author Description

The Tallyman's Campaign Handbook is the essential guide to what is likley to be Ireland's most dramatic election in almost a century. For the fourth election in a row, leading pundit and psephologist Noel Whelan will publish his uniquely detailed analysis in advance of an Irish general election. The handbook will set the national political scene as the election approaches. Among questions that Whelan will explore will include: * What are Fine Gael's prospects of returning to power? * How fragile is Labour and will it survive? * Is there a ceiling on the growth in Sinn Fein's vote? * Is Fianna Fail likely to experience a recovery or is in stuck in a shrunken state? * Who are the Independents, what explains their surge in the polls and will it be reflected in the ballot boxes on Election Day? * Can new micro parties like Renua and the Social Democrats make a break through? Whelan and other leading electoral commentators will analyse the key policy issues and concerns which will dominate the election debate and explore the likely campaign strategies of each of the parties.Separately, the handbook will examine how new gender quotas, campaign finance regulations, postering restrictions, turnout, and the impact of social media will shape the campaign environment. Constituency by constituency, this handbook will detail all 40 battlegrounds at the outset of the campaign. It will assess the performance of the parties and of the independents in each constituency over the last five years and their likely performance in the 2016 election. The handbook will also explore the local issues which may determine the parties' fate when voters go to the polls. The Tallyman's Campaign Handbook will be the essential guide for anyone covering, competing in or interested in Election 2016.