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In a surprising turn of events, a key leading contenders in the Irish race for president has left the campaign, dramatically altering the election dynamics.

Withdrawal Announcement Transforms Political Contest

Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin withdrew on Sunday night following reports about an outstanding payment to a former tenant, turning the race into an unpredictable head-to-head battle between a centre-right former government minister and an non-aligned left-leaning legislator.

Gavin, 54, a newcomer to politics who entered the election after careers in sport, aviation and the military, quit after it came to light he had not repaid a excess rental payment of €3,300 when he was a property owner about 16 years ago, during a period of financial difficulty.

"I made a mistake that was inconsistent with my character and the expectations I hold. I am now taking steps to address the matter," he stated. "After careful consideration, about the potential impact of the current political contest on the welfare of my loved ones and companions.

"After evaluating everything, I've chosen to exit from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and rejoin my loved ones."

Race Narrowed to Leading Candidates

The biggest shock in a political contest in recent history narrowed the contest to one candidate, a former cabinet minister who is campaigning for the governing moderate right political party Fine Gael, and another candidate, an frank pro-Palestinian voice who is backed by a political party and left-leaning minor parties.

Challenge for Party Head

The withdrawal also created turmoil for the prime minister and party head, the party chief, who had risked his standing by nominating an inexperienced hopeful over the reservations of associates in the party.

He commented the candidate wished to avoid "bring controversy" to the presidency and was correct to step down. "He acknowledged that he was at fault in relation to an issue that has arisen in recent days."

Election Challenges

Although known for capability and achievements in commerce and athletics – under his leadership the Dublin football squad to five consecutive championship victories – his political bid struggled through blunders that caused him to fall behind in an public opinion measure even prior to the financial revelation.

Party members who had objected to picking the candidate said the fiasco was a "serious miscalculation" that would have "consequences" – a thinly veiled warning to the leader.

Voting System

The candidate's name may still appear for selection in the poll taking place in late October, which will end the 14-year tenure of the current president, but voters now face a binary choice between a centrist establishment candidate and an non-aligned left-leaning candidate. Opinion research conducted ahead of the withdrawal gave Connolly a third of the vote and 23 percent for Humphreys, with Gavin on 15%.

According to voting regulations, people pick contenders based on preference. Should no contender surpass a majority in round one, the contender receiving the lowest initial choices is removed and their ballots are redistributed to the next preference.

Likely Support Redistribution

Analysts predicted that in the event of his exclusion, a majority of his ballots would shift to the other candidate, and the other way around, boosting the chance that a establishment hopeful would secure the presidency for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.

Function of the President

This office is a primarily ceremonial position but Higgins and his predecessors made it a venue for worldwide concerns.

Final Contenders

The 68-year-old Connolly, from her home city, would add a firm left-leaning stance to that legacy. She has criticized free-market policies and said Hamas is "an integral component" of the Palestinian people. Connolly has alleged the alliance of warmongering and equated Berlin's enhanced defense expenditure to the pre-war era, when the Nazi leader built up military forces.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has encountered examination over her record as a minister in governments that presided over a housing crisis. Being a member of that faith from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been criticised over her lack of Irish language skills but commented her religious background could help win over loyalists in the North in a reunified nation.