DAVID NORRIS HAS admitted that he has spent most of his life savings on bidding to be the next president of Ireland but insists he has no regrets about re-entering the race.
Despite consistently leading or being towards the top of opinion polls prior to the campaign officially getting underway, controversies about his past have seen Norris’s popularity plummet in various polls carried out in recent weeks, meaning he is unlikely to be elected after voting takes place this Thursday.
The latest poll shows the senator with just an 8 per cent share of the vote, but he remained optimistic about his chances when speaking to TheJournal.ie today.
“I’ve had a lot of support from a wonderful group of supporters and all my savings have gone into it,” he said.
The independent presidential candidate first declared his interest in running for the presidency as far back as March of this year but when the controversy over clemency letters he wrote for his former partner Ezra Nawi emerged he pulled out of the race in August and lost much of the money he had raised in that time.
He says he does not regret re-entering the campaign as he did in September following a series of polls which appeared to make him one of the favourites, saying:
I’m out of money and I’m in the red but I’ve always been putting my money where my mouth is, I’ve consistently done this. If I think something needs to be done I will back it up with what ever meagre resources I have.
Norris said he did not wish to “bellyache” about the issue and pointed out that he felt his situation was similar to many in this country although he believes he has been prudent enough to ensure he does not suffer any huge long-term loss.
“If I lose all my savings, I’ll be in exactly in same position as more than half country. I’m not gong to bellyache about it. People are losing their houses. I’m not going to lose my house. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve found myself in a prudent position,” he added.
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