Local or national?

So the posters are up all over Dublin West, no better way to see them than to ride around on 'the 39', one of the most arse about face bus routes in the western world. One question for everyone when there is a race between a clear coalition (FG/Lab) and an unclear coalition (FF/whoever makes up the numbers) is whether to vote based on national or local issues.

This is particularly important in Dublin West - Minister for Children Brian Lenihan is one candidate. He is one of the better ones, with more experience, competence and coherence than Leo Varadkar, the FG boyo. But if you want a change of government, surely you should just vote FG and Labour in whichever order you prefer?

It's not that simple, though. What if you back the FG man based on your guess that they will get into power...and they lose. Or if you back him and he isn't given a ministerial role? The whole area will suffer. This scenario is unlikely, as Lenihan is tipped to keep his seat - but it shows voting is a tricky business.

Anyway back to those posters and what they tell us. Generally I would say they suggest you should vote on local issues - most of the posters focus 90per cent space on the individual's face, 10per cent on the party logo, and nothing at all on coalitions.

Joe Higgins is framed against a capitalist blood red background - you know what you're getting there. Joan Burton, Roderic O'Gorman (Greens), Lenihan, and his running mate Gerry Lynam all dominate their posters, leaving their party ties very much in the background. There is no PD candidate out here, which leaves about 2,000 Cllr. Tom Morrissey votes up for grabs. Only Felix Gallagher (SF) is smothered under his parties' logos. This, presumably, is to appeal to those who are Sinn Fein people rather than Felix Gallagher people.

So maybe the question is not local or national, but personal or party? Considering twice elected Higgins represents a party with all the power of a rusty Lade, you can say that politics out in Dublin West is both local and personal.