Ahern battles for political life in wide-open election

Despite being the largest party in the country, with 34% in the latest poll, Fianna F_il has been unable to form a majority single party government since Charlie Haughey became leader in 1979.
Much of the campaign is about personality, as there is little major policy differences between the right-of-center Fianna F_il, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats (PDs), led by Michael McDowell.
The Labor Party, led by Pat Rabbitte, has struck a deal with Fine Gael to enter coalition, while its rivals in the Green Party and Sinn F