THE first thing to strike you about Mary Lou McDonald is her greeting.

Of course, the handshake is firm - woe betide any politician with a wetfish shake - but it's more about the eye-contact, which is Clintonesque unwavering. Whether it's deliberate or not, it is certainly effective.

It is Friday afternoon in the heart of Cabra and it's certainly the weather for canvassing.

The sun is as hot as a July day and Mary Lou - she is one of that select band of politicians that is known by their first name: Bertie, Mich�al, Enda, Royston - is looking suitably summery with sunglasses perched atop her head.

Good manners and a desire to avoid an awkward start dictates that any temptation to suggest it is unusual to see her without Gerry Adams or Martin McGuinness at her side is easily resisted. And to be fair to McDonald, while Sinn F�in's tactic of strategically placing its election candidates at the shoulder of the party leadership at key moments in the peace process has almost gone beyond parody, she is a serious operator in her own right.

She is being talked of as a future leader, when Adams and McGuinness finally decide to call it a l� - sorry - day. And it's easy to see why as she makes her way from door to door. We know she is a polished TV performer but seeing her in action on the ground, she certainly has the common touch so crucial in Irish politics.

It helps, of course, that she is effectively on home turf today. The area she is canvassing, with a large team of mainly female activists, is by no means exclusively Sinn F�in territory, but the party's candidate, Nicky Kehoe, would have got a huge vote here in the last general election.

Kehoe's decision not to stand, having come within a few dozen votes of getting elected in 2002, stunned observers and prompted all sorts of rumours about rifts and fallings out.

But Kehoe, who is out on the canvass with McDonald today, has always dismissed such suggestions as "wishful thinking" on the part of Sinn F�in's rivals. "We're working very hard.

Mary Lou works very hard. We're a team. She is part of that team."

McDonald concurs, stating that it was Kehoe and another councillor from the constituency, Christy Burke, who wanted her to run in the general election. "It was their bright idea, " she says with mock sarcasm.

There is no question but Kehoe's endorsment is vital. It is no exaggeration to say he knows everybody in the area. "Ann Cleary, what's the story?" he booms at one passing constituent on her way home.

But there is also a big recognition for McDonald and plenty of promises of support.

"I was only saying that to the girls [other Sinn F�in activists]. You will indeed [get my number one], chicken. You only have to look at the others, " says one woman standing in her doorway.

"Where are you Mary and how's that baby?"

says another. "He's one and not a baby anymore, " McDonald replies laughing. The message from McDonald is consistent - you know where we are; the Sinn F�in office in Cabra is always open.

This is an impressively tight-knit community where people look out for each other. Kehoe compares it to a village. "Will you tell Philomena that I don't owe her Euro20, " says McDonald, filling in a woman about a long-running joke between the MEP and a constituent.

"You've lost a lot of weight, " another woman approvingly tells McDonald. It's the day for compliments. "You're looking well, " says a man. "You look better in real life." McDonald takes it in her stride: "You charmer, " she replies.

But there's also a fair bit of politics talked.

While local issues, as ever in Irish politics, dominate, there is a 10-minute discussion with two neighbouring families, taking in the sun at the front of their of homes, about stamp duty.

One woman tells McDonald that her daughter is looking to buy a house in the area, but will have to fork out Euro10,800 in stamp duty to do so.

McDonald doesn't go for the easy answers.

"The danger is that if you abolish it, the price of the house goes up anyway and it works its way to the developers. We think the best way to do it is through mortgage interest relief for buyers."

The conversation turns to the housing list and again McDonald is realistic. "There are 5,000 people on the housing list in Dublin Central, " she says, indicating that this issue won't be solved overnight.

However, she notes, there are two new developments being built in the area and 20% of those will be for social and affordable housing.

"It's a start. It's something, " says the woman who raised the issue of stamp duty.

Humour is ever present in the conversation.

As she is leaving the group, McDonald tells a pregnant woman that she is very neat. "I have to be. There's no more room in the two bed, " she replies, point very much made.

Further down the road, there is a panic among the mothers sitting out when one of the children, excited by the presence of McDonald and her entourage, runs across the road when a car is coming.

McDonald looks comfortable pressing the flesh, even lifting up children to be photographed with her. "Mary Lou, " laughs one of the kids. "I know, it's a funny name, isn't it?

Everyone slags me about it, " McDonald says about one of her prime electoral assets.

Again the promises of No 1's come thick and fast. "I won't forget you", "Ah definitely" and "I always vote for you [Sinn F�in]" are typical responses when McDonald asks if they will "keep us in mind".

Another woman commits her vote and when reminded about how close the party came in 2002, responds: "Please God, this time."

Speaking on the same subject afterwards, McDonald says she is under no illusions about what lies ahead. "This is a very competitive constituency. We believe there's a Sinn F�in seat and it hasn't fallen out of the sky. Christy and Nicky have worked very hard over the years and there is a strong republican vote. But we'll be taking nothing for granted. Will it be tough? Yes it will. But we're happy how it's gone so far."