Blaine throws his hat into the ring

FG Activist Blaine Gaffney, who only weeks ago declared his intention to run in the local elections next year, has now thrown his hat in the ring in a bid to enter national politics as the FG candidate for Sligo Leitrim.

Blaine confirmed to The Sligo Champion last Friday that he is seeking a party nomination for the upcoming general election. The selection convention takes place in the Clayton Hotel next Thursday week and Blaine is confident of getting the 1,000 or so delegates to vote in his favour.

“I have a good delegate base,” he says, “I would know a lot of delegates.”

Furthermore he says those at higher level within the party encouraged him to put his name forward: “A number of senior politicians in Dublin encouraged the move. My mum supports me. Since Tony is leaving everything is up in the air, so why not? I’m confident in my ability to get elected. I’ ll be doing the rounds over the next two weeks. There is a massive drive towards youth in the party. We have a new Fine Gael. Do we want young candidates or people who have been there, done that?”