Irish election race already on ahead of date

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Irish election race already on ahead of date

The Associated Press Published Monday, January 31, 2011 9:36AM EST

Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen prepares to speak to the medi that he was resigning as Finna Fail leader in Dublin, Ireland, Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011. (AP Photo)

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DUBLIN - Ireland's election race is already off and running a day before Prime Minister Brian Cowen dissolves parliament for a February poll.

Cowen says he will announce the date Tuesday. Analysts widely expect Feb. 25 to be election day -- and for Cowen's Fianna Fail party to suffer a historic defeat in punishment for Ireland's journey to the edge of bankruptcy.

Cowen has already resigned as Fianna Fail leader. His successor, former foreign minister Micheal Martin, plans to promote several younger lawmakers when he unveils the party's new leadership lineup Monday.

A Sunday Business Post poll put support for Fine Gael and Labour -- the opposition parties favored to form the next government -- at 33 percent and 23 per cent respectively. Fianna Fail was third with 16 per cent.