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In a stunning development, a key primary contenders in the Irish election for president has left the race, dramatically altering the entire competition.

Withdrawal Announcement Transforms Political Contest

The party's presidential hopeful stepped down on the evening of Sunday following reports about an financial obligation to a previous occupant, turning the contest into an unpredictable head-to-head battle between a center-right past cabinet member and an autonomous progressive parliamentarian.

Gavin, 54, a inexperienced candidate who joined the election after professional experiences in sports, airline industry and defense, withdrew after it emerged he had neglected to refund a excess rental payment of €3,300 when he was a lessor about 16 years ago, during a period of economic hardship.

"It was my fault that was not in keeping with who I am and the expectations I hold. I am currently resolving the issue," he declared. "After careful consideration, about the potential impact of the continuing election battle on the wellbeing of my relatives and acquaintances.

"Weighing all these factors, My decision is to step down from the race for the presidency with immediate action and go back to my family."

Race Narrowed to Primary Hopefuls

The biggest shock in a election race in living memory narrowed the contest to one candidate, a former cabinet minister who is running for the incumbent center-right Fine Gael party, and another candidate, an outspoken advocate for Palestine who is supported by a political party and left-leaning minor parties.

Problem for Leader

Gavin's exit also caused a problem for the leader of Fianna Fáil, the party chief, who had staked his authority by nominating an untried candidate over the skepticism of party colleagues.

Martin said it was about not wanting to "cause dispute" to the presidency and was justified in leaving. "He acknowledged that he committed a mistake in relation to an matter that has emerged recently."

Campaign Struggles

Although known for competence and success in commerce and athletics – he guided Dublin's Gaelic football team to five consecutive championship victories – his election effort faltered through missteps that caused him to fall behind in an survey even before the unpaid debt disclosure.

Party members who had opposed selecting Gavin said the episode was a "significant mistake" that would have "consequences" – a barely concealed caution to Martin.

Voting System

His name may stay on the voting paper in the poll taking place in late October, which will finish the long service of the current president, but the electorate now confronts a dichotomy between a mainstream moderate hopeful and an independent leftwinger. Survey results prior to the withdrawal gave Connolly a third of the vote and Humphreys nearly a quarter, with Gavin on 15%.

According to voting regulations, the electorate chooses candidates in order of preference. If no candidate exceeds a majority in round one, the contender receiving the lowest first preference votes is eliminated and their support is passed to the following option.

Possible Ballot Shifts

It was expected that in the event of his exclusion, a majority of his ballots would go to Humphreys, and vice versa, boosting the chance that a mainstream contender would attain the presidency for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.

Role of the Presidency

The presidency is a mostly representative role but incumbents and past holders transformed it into a stage for international matters.

Surviving Hopefuls

The 68-year-old Connolly, from Galway, would bring a strong leftwing voice to that heritage. She has criticized free-market policies and stated the group represents "a fundamental element" of the people of Palestine. She has accused NATO of promoting military solutions and equated Germany's increased defence spending to the pre-war era, when Germany underwent rearmament.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has encountered examination over her performance in government in cabinets that oversaw a property shortage. A Presbyterian from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been questioned about her inability to speak Irish but said her religious background could help win over loyalists in the North in a united Ireland.