Independent newspapers report that David Norris is in the process of making a last ditch attempt to salvage his bid to become President of IrelandIndependent Senator David Norris will make a last-ditch attempt to salvage his near-doomed presidential campaign next week with a blitz on councils.
However, the likelihood that he will receive the backing of local councillors was regarded as non-existent last night.
The senator has been embroiled in controversy over comments on a range of moral issues, including sex and drugs.
As the damage to his campaign mounted, Mr Norris had to explain his position on the ancient Greek practice of pederasty, involving the relationship between an older and younger man, and his stance on the age of consent.
Mr Norris is appealing for his presidential bid to be judged on his overall record in politics.
The senator says he is confident he can secure a nomination to run in the presidential election in November.
However, political sources from a number of parties said he only had a slim chance of getting support for his nomination from TDs, senators or councillors.
Mr Norris needs the support of 20 Oireachtas members and four local authorities to secure a nomination.
Fine Gael has already banned its councillors from backing any Independent candidates' bid for a nomination -- thereby removing the largest group on many councils.
Mr Norris will address councils in Carlow, Wexford and Wicklow next Monday in what he is dubbing 'Super Monday'.
The controversy over the senator's nomination flared up again after a second interview emerged in which Mr Norris expressed a number of contentious views.
"I don't think it would be appropriate for me to be judged simply on a couple of sensational newspaper headlines," he said.
