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In a surprising turn of events, one of the main contenders in the Irish race for president has quit the contest, upending the political landscape.

Withdrawal Announcement Shakes Up Campaign Landscape

Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin stepped down on the evening of Sunday following reports about an outstanding payment to a former tenant, turning the race into an volatile head-to-head battle between a centre-right ex-minister and an independent leftwing member of parliament.

Gavin, 54, a political novice who entered the election after work in sport, aviation and the military, withdrew after it was revealed he had failed to return a excess rental payment of 3,300 euros when he was a lessor about in the mid-2000s, during a period of monetary strain.

"It was my fault that was not in keeping with my character and the expectations I hold. Corrective actions are underway," he declared. "After careful consideration, about the potential impact of the ongoing campaign on the welfare of my relatives and acquaintances.

"Taking all these considerations onboard, I've chosen to exit from the presidential election contest with immediate action and rejoin my loved ones."

Race Narrowed to Two Main Contenders

A major surprise in a political contest in living memory limited the options to Heather Humphreys, a past government official who is campaigning for the governing moderate right political party Fine Gael, and Catherine Connolly, an frank pro-Palestinian voice who is endorsed by Sinn Féin and left-leaning minor parties.

Challenge for Party Head

The withdrawal also created turmoil for the prime minister and party head, Micheál Martin, who had put his reputation on the line by selecting an untried candidate over the doubts of associates in the party.

Martin said it was about not wanting to "cause dispute" to the presidency and was justified in leaving. "Gavin recognized that he made an error in relation to an situation that has arisen in recent days."

Campaign Struggles

Despite a reputation for skill and accomplishments in enterprise and sports – under his leadership the Dublin football squad to five straight titles – his political bid struggled through gaffes that put him at a disadvantage in an opinion poll even before the unpaid debt disclosure.

Individuals within Fianna Fáil who had been against choosing Gavin said the fiasco was a "major error in judgment" that would have "repercussions" – a thinly veiled warning to the leader.

Voting System

Gavin's name may remain on the ballot in the vote scheduled for October 24, which will end the 14-year tenure of the current president, but the electorate now confronts a two options between a traditional center candidate and an non-aligned left-leaning candidate. A poll taken before his departure gave 32 percent backing for Connolly and Humphreys nearly a quarter, with 15 percent supporting Gavin.

As per election guidelines, people pick hopefuls by ranked choice. 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 next preference.

Likely Support Redistribution

It was expected that should Gavin be removed, a majority of his ballots would transfer to Humphreys, and the other way around, increasing the likelihood that a pro-government candidate would win the presidential office for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.

Presidential Duties

This office is a largely symbolic post but the current and former presidents transformed it into a stage for international matters.

Final Contenders

Connolly, 68, from Galway, would introduce a robust progressive perspective to that heritage. She has assailed neoliberal economics and stated the group represents "an integral component" of the people of Palestine. She has accused Nato of militarism and compared the country's raised military budget to the thirties, when the Nazi leader built up military forces.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has faced scrutiny over her record as a minister in governments that presided over a housing crisis. As a Protestant from the northern county, she has also been faulted for her failure to speak Gaelic but commented her Protestant heritage could aid in securing loyalists in the North in a united Ireland.