Giving the wrong impression is something Simon has perfected

1 IRISH WATER:

Dropping the ball on RTÉ’s Prime Time last March by saying Fine Gael were ‘willing to talk about water’, a gaffe which precipitated an increase in non-payment of the charge. Fine Gael has never recovered the lost momentum on that issue.

2 NOT A BLACK AND WHITE ISSUE:

Coveney’s oversized black-and-white poster unfurled for his leadership bid – as colourful as the Cork man’s personality, in the eyes of many – gave out the wrong impression. It said, ‘I’m old school’, in a party and country that had had enough of the oldest of old school politicians, Enda Kenny. He needed to project freshness; instead, he came across as bland and stale.

3 BREEN AND CAREY:

The decision to stand between two Leo supporters on day two of the campaign was unforgiveable. The awkwardness of him – and them – being asked who they were supporting was incredibly cringey. People around the country had to look into their hands. While they only declared their allegiance after the event, the impact was the same – and it reinforced the amateur air of his campaign. If he didn’t know, he was incompetent. If he did, he was foolish.

4 CHOIR BOYS:

The studs-up intervention by one of Simon’s most high-profile supporters, Kate O’Connell, was extraordinary. ‘Choirboys singing for their supper’ was all very colourful language – and at least showed a bit of gumption. But it was too little too late, for one. And two, it doesn’t quite deal with why Leo’s supporters aren’t allowed to declare their preference, but Ms O’Connell was entitled to declare hers.

5 NO-SHOWS:

History is made by those who turn up. Leo Varadkar ran an organised, controlled media strategy. Coveney’s media strategy was a shambles which was topped off by the decision to cancel a media Q&A yesterday afternoon in Cork. In the absence of Coveney coming out before newspaper deadlines yesterday, today’s newspapers will be full of Leo, Leo, Leo. It is rookie stuff.