[caption id="attachment_66804" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="David Norris"]
It could be one of the great comebacks.
Speculation continues to grow that Senator David Norris will re-enter the Irish presidential election only weeks after sensationally withdrawing from the race.
Mr. Norris, the first openly gay candidate for the presidency of the country, quit on August 2 amid controversy over a clemency letter he wrote to Israeli authorities 14 years ago for his former partner, who was convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old boy.
However, the senator is believed to be considering reversing his decision after receiving what he called "a consistent outpouring of public support." He is expected to make an announcement during a scheduled appearance on Irish television on The Late Late Show this Friday.
During his resignation speech, Mr. Norris admitted he made "a human error" in writing the letter but insisted it was done purely from a "sense of love and concern" for his former partner.
The big issue is that any campaign by Norris would not have time on its side. With the September 28 deadline for nominations looming, he would little more than two weeks to secure the 20 nominations from TDs required to get his name on the ballot paper.
Before he dropped out of the race, the senator had the support of most of the Independent TDs. However, several high profile Independent TDs have withdrawn support and have since stated that will not change.
One other option is for the senator to gain the backing of Fianna Fáil in order to run as their candidate. However, senior party sources have been reported as saying they would not back Norris due to his previously turning down their support at the start of his original campaign.
A Fianna Fáil spokesman said the party's position was that it had decided not to run a candidate. Once the nominations were in, it would look at those running and then decide whether to support a particular candidate. He said the question of facilitating a candidate by nominating the person was not an issue for Fianna Fáil because no one had contacted the party to seek such support.
The development came as Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams confirmed his party would field a candidate on October 27. Speaking during last weekend's historic first Ard Fheis in Belfast, Adams said Sinn Féin's incoming ard chomhairle would meet to select a candidate.
Talk on the floor during the event at the city's Waterfront Hall put Westminster MP for Fermanagh-South Tyrone Michelle Gildernew as the preferred candidate, although party officials would not confirm the move. Also being mentioned in reports is North Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness. Adams indicated Tuesday that a party-supported candidate would actually not be an official Sinn Féin one, but rather one supported by the party.
"In my view Sinn Féin should support the nomination of a candidate to be president of Ireland," said Adams.
"Next month the people will elect a new president of Ireland. The presidency is not a trophy for the political establishment. Across this island more and more people are looking to Sinn Féin for leadership.
"We will put forward a candidate who is capable of winning the support of progressive and nationalist opinion, and who will reflect the broad republican spirit of the Irish people at this time."
