Ouch. One down and the canvass hasn't even begun.

Not that the PD team look too perturbed . . . seasoned campaigners all, they shrug off the rebuke and plot their route for the evening's canvass.

Moments later, Liz O'Donnell pulls into the car park driving a chic Saab convertible.

Fresh from a radio interview on Tony Blair's legacy, she is stylishly dressed in an ultrafashionable brown militarystyle coat, brown suede boots, trousers and a beige polo neck.

O'Donnell is about as far removed from the parish pump politician as possible but, tonight at least, she appears to be enjoying the canvass.

Little wonder. Most commentators are predicting that, after 15 years representing Dublin South, she is going to lose her seat, but the reaction on the doors of upmarket Mount Merrion, just south of UCD, is nothing short of phenomenal. Even allowing for this being a PD stronghold, on the evidence here, it would be folly to write her off.

"Your leader is one of the few people with the guts to do things. He has done a few things with guts, like the immigration referendum, " one householder tells O'Donnell.

He goes on to say that he thinks McDowell would do a great job with health before O'Donnell gently reminds him that Mary Harney is "doing a great job there", adding: "Our main focus is on the reforming ministries." Before shutting his door, the man confirms that, "I won't be voting on the left."

At another house a few doors down, a man wearing an apron comes to the door, apologises for having to rush back to his cooking but adds: "We do need the PDs back in again and well done."

A woman eating a 99 ice cream cone expresses concern about how cold O'Donnell's hands are, before reassuring her that "you'll get my vote".

"Good to see you. You're looking as young as ever. I've been supporting you all the time. I'm a great admirer of you and Mary Harney, " another householder says warmly.

Such is the reaction, the Sunday Tribune tells O'Donnell, that we suspect this is a ready-up. She insists this is typical of the feedback she is getting nightly, although she does concede that "we got a few nasty ones last night".

It's not all plain sailing. "I'm a floater, " one woman says, getting into her car and implicitly making the point that O'Donnell shouldn't take her vote for granted.

"You have a constitutional right to float, " the TD responds, although Michael McDowell would no doubt inform her that, while it is a good line, there is actually no such provision in Bunreacht na hEireann.

The only really hostile reaction comes when a nurse opens the door, clearly determined to make a few points.

"I think it's appalling the way we're being treated. I'd never vote for you again, " she says.

The controversy over Bertie Ahern's finances are also brought up in fairly blunt terms . . . the only time it is mentioned on the doorsteps that evening.

O'Donnell attempts to put the government side of the case, arguing that while she thinks the nurses "have a grievance", any pay rise has to be done through benchmarking, otherwise there would be an impact across the public sector. She also argues that public sector workers got a good deal out of Sustaining Progress, but the nurse is having none of it.

She tells the PD deputy leader that she has just worked 18 hours in intensive care and received 180, less than a cleaner would get, and that "you can tell Mary Harney it's appalling" that their wages are now being docked for any industrial action.

She also makes it clear she will vote for Fine Gael. "I think they deserve the chance."

O'Donnell concedes defeat.

"Best of luck to you. I do think you'll do well in benchmarking though."

But the nurse is not for placating. "You walk away. You don't want to hear the bad news."

O'Donnell makes the point that she has just spent five minutes discussing the issue before moving on.

The welcome is warmer a few doors down. "How are you getting on?" a man asks O'Donnell. Very well, the TD responds, explaining: "It's a settled area. People work hard and pay their taxes and want someone good to run the country."

At another house, stamp duty is raised, albeit in less forceful terms than earlier in the evening. "It can be a lot on a second-hand home and it's affecting the mobility of workers, " O'Donnell says.

Another constituent expresses concern about the impact of the nurses' strike but adds, "that apart, I don't suppose you can do anything about the weather", before promising there are two number ones for O'Donnell in his house.

O'Donnell insists there is "a very good pro-government response" in Dublin South which, she says, has done well with the arrival of the Luas, the strong economy and general improvement of services.

She recalls that in the last election, her chances were written off and, "I came in between Seamie Brennan and Tom Kitt", adding: "I'm reasonably confident but it's a struggle and it will be more closely fought than previously. I wouldn't be complacent at all."

Asked if she would be happy for the PDs to serve in government again with Bertie Ahern given the concerns expressed by the party about his finances, she stresses her good personal relationship with Ahern and is emphatic that, if the taoiseach clarifies the situation, there would be no problem. "I would have a difficulty if these matters were not cleared up. I hope he can deliver that, I genuinely do."

Dublin South (five seats) Declared candidates FF: Seamus Brennan TD, Maria Corrigan, Tom Kitt TD PD: Liz O'Donnell TD FG: Olivia Mitchell TD, Jim O'Leary, Alan Shatter Lab: Aidan Culhane, Alex White GP: Eamon Ryan TD SF: Sorcha Nic Cormaic, Shaun Tracey FRR: Liam O Gogain 2002 GENERAL ELECTION 5 seats , 11 candidates, 9 counts, electorate 92,645, quota 9,211 PD15% Lab9.5% Others 5.8% SF 3.9% 1st prefs % count elected Seamus Brennan (FF) 9,326 16.88% 1 Tom Kitt (FF) 7,744 14.01% 2 Liz O'Donnell (PD) 8,288 15.00% 3 Olivia Mitchell (FG) 5,568 10.08% 4 Eamon Ryan (GP) 5,222 9.45% 5 Eithne Fitzgerald (Lab) 5,247 9.49% Alan Shatter (FG) 5,363 9.70% Maria Corrigan (FF) 3,180 5.75% Deirdre Whelan (SF) 2,172 3.93% Karen Canning (IHA) 2,090 3.78% Lisa Maher (Soc) 1,063 1.92% Total valid 55,263 59.65% Spoilt votes 427 0.77% GP9.5% Total poll 55,690 60.11%