David Norris Jumping Back in Race for President, Report Says

It might not be over yet. Ireland's Sunday Independentreports that Senator David Norris will re-enter the race this week to become president of Ireland and the first openly gay man to lead any country.

Norris had consistently led in polls before dramatically quitting the race in August amid a scandal over his former partner, Ezra Nawi, who journalist Joe Jackson reports Norris was still with when he quietly defended him from sentencing in a statutory rape case. Norris, a champion for gay rights in Ireland, had written to authorities in Israel on official stationery in 1997 calling for clemency for Nawi.

But a surprising poll after Norris left the race showed a groundswell of support for him remained despite the scandal, which Norris said he regretted. According to a new Sunday Independent/Quantum Research poll, 40% support Norris -- which would immediately return him to the front of the pack. The Sunday Independent reports that Norris will announce his return this week, perhaps during a scheduled appearance on The Late, Late Show in his country on Friday.

Support from voters, though, isn't the only barrier in Ireland to winning an election. Independent candidates such as Norris, who aren't affiliated with any party, face a number of systemic hurdles in even getting their names on the ballot. Norris either needs support from 20 fellow members of the Oireachtas, the nation's parliament (and he needs their endorsement before September 28), or he needs a number of county governments to offer their endorsement.

The Irish press is speculating that Norris might sign on with a party in order to ensure that his name is on the ballot.