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In a surprising turn of events, one of the primary candidates in the Irish race for president has quit the campaign, dramatically altering the election dynamics.

Sudden Exit Reconfigures Election Dynamics

The party's presidential hopeful withdrew on the evening of Sunday following disclosures about an unpaid debt to a previous occupant, converting the race into an volatile direct competition between a centre-right ex-minister and an non-aligned left-leaning member of parliament.

Gavin, 54, a inexperienced candidate who joined the campaign after careers in sports, airline industry and defense, quit after it emerged he had failed to return a excess rental payment of €3,300 when he was a property owner about in the mid-2000s, during a period of monetary strain.

"I committed an error that was inconsistent with who I am and the standards I set myself. I am currently resolving the issue," he declared. "After careful consideration, about the potential impact of the current political contest on the welfare of my relatives and acquaintances.

"Taking all these considerations onboard, I have decided to withdraw from the campaign for president with right away and rejoin my loved ones."

Race Narrowed to Leading Candidates

The most dramatic event in a presidential campaign in living memory narrowed the contest to Heather Humphreys, a past government official who is campaigning for the ruling centre-right Fine Gael party, and Catherine Connolly, an frank supporter of Palestinian rights who is supported by a political party and left-leaning minor parties.

Problem for Leader

The withdrawal also caused a problem for the leader of Fianna Fáil, Micheál Martin, who had risked his standing by nominating an unproven contender over the doubts of party colleagues.

The leader stated Gavin did not want to "cause dispute" to the office of president and was right to withdraw. "Gavin recognized that he was at fault in relation to an situation that has arisen in recent days."

Election Challenges

Even with a track record of skill and accomplishments in enterprise and sports – under his leadership Dublin's Gaelic football team to five consecutive championship victories – his political bid struggled through blunders that put him at a disadvantage in an survey even ahead of the debt news.

Individuals within Fianna Fáil who had opposed selecting Gavin said the situation was a "major error in judgment" that would have "consequences" – a thinly veiled warning to the leader.

Ballot Process

The candidate's name may still appear for selection in the poll taking place in late October, which will conclude the lengthy term of President Higgins, but the electorate now confronts a two options between a centrist establishment candidate and an independent leftwinger. Opinion research conducted ahead of the withdrawal gave 32 percent backing for Connolly and Humphreys nearly a quarter, with the former candidate at 15 percent.

As per election guidelines, people pick candidates in order of preference. In case nobody reaches a majority in round one, the candidate with the least first preference votes is removed and their ballots are redistributed to the following option.

Likely Support Redistribution

Observers anticipated that in the event of his exclusion, a majority of his ballots would go to Humphreys, and the other way around, boosting the chance that a pro-government candidate would secure the presidency for the allied parties.

Function of the President

This office is a primarily ceremonial position but incumbents and past holders made it a platform on global issues.

Remaining Candidates

The 68-year-old Connolly, from Galway, would add a firm left-leaning stance to that tradition. Connolly has attacked free-market policies and stated Hamas is "a fundamental element" of the Palestinian community. Connolly has alleged Nato of militarism and equated the country's raised military budget to the pre-war era, when Adolf Hitler rearmed the country.

Humphreys, 62, has encountered examination over her performance in government in governments that presided over a property shortage. As a Protestant from the border county of Monaghan, she has also been faulted for her lack of Irish language skills but said her faith tradition could aid in securing loyalists in the North in a reunified nation.