Supreme leader basks in glory in his own backyard

The supreme leader was selected at the most select of selection conventions in the heart of PD territory last night, writes Miriam Lord

There was never any doubt about the result. Of course Michael McDowell was the only candidate in the field. Magnificent. Peerless. Massive brain. Who would have dared stand against him? McDowell and a place on the ticket in Dublin South East is one match that was always going to strike.

But outside the genteel world of the PDs - it was like a works outing from the Law Library and Blackhall Place at the convention - McDowell is in danger of becoming the brightest wallflower in town. After his selection was confirmed, he addressed his local branch on the party's strategic options after the election. He put forward a number of options, eventually settling on what he likes to call the Ronseal approach. After the election McDowell says he will do exactly what it says on the tank, sorry, tin.

Labour hate him and he's not exactly fond of them, so that's out. He has no problem with Fine Gael. In fact, McDowell thinks they could get along very well. Unfortunately, Enda Kenny says he won't touch him with a bargepole. Which leaves him with Fianna Fáil. Which means McDowell, unlike Pat Rabbitte (who is playing footsie with two suitors and reluctant to give either of them the knockback), can send out a strong message to voters.

As he told his acolytes in a small room in the southside Hilton, he will not be joining a rainbow coalition under any circumstances. They represent an "incoherent alliance". McDowell is long enough working with Bertie Ahern to know incoherence when he sees it.

His lovely audience applauded when he predicted the electorate would follow his lead and elbow the "slump coalition".

No, even if he hadn't been rejected by Fine Gael, the newly selected candidate for Dublin South East is now on the market and intent on doing all he can to remain within the bosom of the plump coalition - comfy after 10 years in power.

He can only pray that Rabbitte doesn't succumb to Ahern's charm once the votes are counted. Although if Kenny electrifies the nation, McDowell will be on his own, gazing longingly at a potential partner who is blind to his brilliance. But that's a few months down the road yet.

Last night McDowell began took his first steps towards election 2007 when his nomination was ratified by universal acclaim.

His predecessor, Mary Harney, was on hand to chair the meeting. It's a PD tradition on public occasions that McDowell and Mary share a very public kiss, and last night was no exception. The photographers were in position to record it when a highly confident McDowell strode in half-an-hour late for his date with destiny.

Harney spoke at length on the health service before McDowell got a chance to speak. He was so relieved when the former tánaiste finished, he presented her with a bunch of flowers. Or perhaps that was just good manners. They do good manners better than most in the PD part of Dublin South East.