Election organisation: Fianna Fáil is to carry out its own review of the electoral register in each constituency in an attempt to target and maximise the turnout of its core vote.
The proposals are being seen within the party as not only a return to basic electioneering but a mirroring of the successful "Get the Vote Out" tactic used in the 2004 US presidential election campaign.
The party has drawn up guidelines for the review which have been sent to organisers in each constituency, the party's TDs and Senators were told yesterday.
In a briefing on preparations for the 2007 general election campaign, Fianna Fáil general secretary Seán Dorgan told the Westport parliamentary party meeting that the register should be seen as the party's "market".
The aim of the exercise was to identify potential voters not already on the register and ensure they are added before the general election.
Another core aim is to use a combination of local knowledge and data collected by the party at previous elections to identify those most likely to vote and the party's potential core vote within that. These names are then to be targeted in an attempt to maximise their vote.
The campaign is already under way in some constituencies, including the Taoiseach's constituency Dublin Central.
The electoral register had previously been a key campaign tool for Fianna Fáil and other traditional parties but has fallen into disuse in recent years as traditional local party activism has declined.
However, key voter targeting using electoral registers was introduced in US presidential elections in the form of the "Get the Vote Out" campaign pioneered by the Democratic party.
Mr Dorgan also told TDs and Senators that the party would have its full set of candidates selected by the end of next month in the six outstanding constituencies.
Candidates have yet to be selected in Donegal North East, Dublin North East and Cork South West, while the constituencies of Cavan-Monaghan, Dublin West and Wicklow have been partially completed.
He told the conference that candidate selection was at a more advanced stage than in the run-up to the 2002 general election.
They were also told that the Taoiseach would be mounting a tour of the constituencies and hopes to have visited all of the candidates in half of the country's constituencies by Christmas week. The tour began yesterday afternoon with a visit by Mr Ahern to Ballina and first time party candidate Dara Calleary.
Mr Ahern will be visiting candidates in Dublin North and Wicklow later this week.
TDs and Senators were also told that the party would be drawing up design rules for election literature and that these would have to be adhered to.
Mr Dorgan also outlined the support system that will be in place for each candidate from party headquarters, including press release services and help with literature and leaflets.
There is expected to be a greater concentration by party headquarters on local and candidate campaigns than in 2002.
The party is to set aside a considerable number of staff for candidate support duties, who are to work alongside regional organisers appointed to the party in the last two years.