Irish Senator David Norris, a gay man who is a champion for rights in his country, quit the race to become president in August because of a scandal. But a new poll shows some voters wish he'd make a comeback.
Norris had been the frontrunner in repeated polls until it was revealed that he'd secretly written a letter on official stationary defending his then-partner who had been convicted of statutory rape with a 15-year-old boy in Israel in 1997.
The new Sunday Independent/Millward Brown poll shows Norris coming in third, with 18% of the vote, even after quitting the campaign. The race's new leader, Michael Higgins, has only 32% support.
Voters were also asked whether they want Norris to re-enter the race, and 34% said yes. More want Norris back in the race as an option than are sure they'd actually vote for him.
When asked to describe Norris, voters called him "vibrant," "inspiring" and "modern" while rarely saying anything negative, according to the Independent.
If Norris were to change his mind about leaving the race, he has until September 28, the last day on which candidates can be nominated.
But Norris would also have to overcome an election system that is stacked against independent candidates. To get his name on the ballot, Norris needs support from a certain threshold of sitting senators or county governments. And with Norris' candidacy not affiliated with any major party, that was already proving a difficult climb before the scandal.
If elected, Norris would have been the first openly gay man to serve as president of any country in Europe, and the world.
