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In a stunning development, one of the leading candidates in Ireland's race for president has withdrawn from the contest, dramatically altering the political landscape.

Sudden Exit Transforms Political Contest

Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin stepped down on Sunday night following revelations about an unpaid debt to a past renter, transforming the contest into an unpredictable head-to-head battle between a center-right past cabinet member and an autonomous progressive member of parliament.

The 54-year-old Gavin, a political novice who was parachuted into the race after professional experiences in sport, aviation and the military, quit after it came to light he had neglected to refund a rent overpayment of 3,300 euros when he was a lessor about in the mid-2000s, during a period of financial difficulty.

"I committed an error that was contrary to who I am and the principles I uphold. I am currently resolving the issue," he declared. "Reflecting deeply, concerning the influence of the continuing election battle on the wellbeing of my loved ones and companions.

"Taking all these considerations onboard, My decision is to step down from the campaign for president with right away and go back to my family."

Race Narrowed to Two Main Contenders

The biggest shock in a election race in modern times reduced the field to Heather Humphreys, a ex-minister who is running for the ruling centre-right party Fine Gael, and another candidate, an vocal supporter of Palestinian rights who is supported by Sinn Féin and minor progressive groups.

Problem for Leader

This departure also triggered a crisis for the taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, the party chief, who had risked his standing by choosing an inexperienced hopeful over the reservations of associates in the party.

The leader stated the candidate wished to avoid "cause dispute" to the office of president and was justified in leaving. "Jim has accepted that he made an error in relation to an issue that has come up lately."

Campaign Struggles

Although known for skill and accomplishments in enterprise and sports – Gavin had steered the Dublin football squad to multiple successive wins – his election effort faltered through blunders that put him at a disadvantage in an opinion poll even ahead of the debt news.

Fianna Fáil figures who had objected to picking Gavin said the situation was a "major error in judgment" that would have "consequences" – a thinly veiled warning to the leader.

Election Rules

The candidate's name may stay on the voting paper in the vote scheduled for October 24, which will finish the long service of President Higgins, but voters now face a dichotomy between a centrist establishment candidate and an independent leftwinger. Opinion research conducted ahead of Gavin's exit gave Connolly 32% support and 23 percent for Humphreys, with 15 percent supporting Gavin.

According to voting regulations, people pick candidates in order of preference. In case nobody reaches half the votes initially, the hopeful with the fewest first preference votes is removed and their votes are transferred to the subsequent choice.

Likely Support Redistribution

Analysts predicted that if Gavin was eliminated, most of his votes would shift to the other candidate, and conversely, increasing the likelihood that a mainstream contender would secure the presidency for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.

Presidential Duties

The role of president is a primarily ceremonial position but incumbents and past holders made it a venue for worldwide concerns.

Remaining Candidates

The 68-year-old Connolly, from Galway, would add a firm left-leaning stance to that legacy. She has criticized capitalist systems and stated the group represents "a fundamental element" of the people of Palestine. She has charged the alliance of warmongering and likened the country's raised military budget to the pre-war era, when Germany underwent rearmament.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has faced scrutiny over her time in office in governments that presided over a housing crisis. As a Protestant from the northern county, she has also been questioned about her failure to speak Gaelic but commented her Protestant heritage could help win over Northern Ireland's unionists in a united Ireland.