SENATOR DAVID NORRIS is appealing for bodies and cash in his online campaign to get nominated for the Presidency. The website www.norrisforpresident.ie, which he launched through Facebook between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, asks the public to get involved in this October’s race for the Aras.

The independent candidate wants his supporters to fill out an online volunteer form, indicating what they could offer to his presidential campaign. The options include shoe-leather tasks like canvassing and leaflet dropping, as well as financial management, polling, logistics, social media and regional co-ordination. However, he’s also got a prominent ‘Donate Today!’ (his exclamation mark, not ours) button on the home page.

Norris says he is seeking the nomination because he believes he “owes” it to the “thousands of messages of support I am receiving from people all over the country”.

The senator tweeted last March that he had put a €50 bet on himself at 33/1 to get into the Aras. Ken Robertson of Paddy Power bookmakers says that a payout on the bet depends on the bookie that Norris placed it with. Robertson told TheJournal.ie:

In a situation like that, running for the Irish presidency, it wouldn’t be beyond the realm of publicity to back oneself in the race. In the past we have offered bets for charity to leaders of political parties on the outcome of elections.

Should he win, Norris will scoop a tidy €1,650 return on his bet. Michael D Higgins is currently 11/4 favourite to take over Mary McAleese, Brian Crowley is at 7/2 second favourite and Barnardos CEO Fergus Finlay is in joint third place in the odds with Norris at 9/2. Robertson added: “If David Norris got himself at 33/1, he did very well indeed.”