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In a surprising turn of events, a key leading candidates in the Irish race for president has left the contest, upending the election dynamics.

Sudden Exit Transforms Election Dynamics

The party's presidential hopeful pulled out on the evening of Sunday following reports about an unpaid debt to a former tenant, converting the election into an uncertain head-to-head battle between a center-right ex-minister and an autonomous progressive legislator.

Gavin, 54, a political novice who joined the election after careers in sport, aviation and the military, quit after it emerged he had failed to return a excess rental payment of 3,300 euros when he was a lessor about 16 years ago, during a period of monetary strain.

"I committed an error that was not in keeping with my values and the principles I uphold. Corrective actions are underway," he said. "I have also thought long and hard, concerning the influence of the ongoing campaign on the health of my loved ones and companions.

"After evaluating everything, My decision is to step down from the presidential election contest with immediate action and rejoin my loved ones."

Race Narrowed to Primary Hopefuls

A major surprise in a presidential campaign in modern times reduced the field to one candidate, a former cabinet minister who is campaigning for the ruling centre-right political party Fine Gael, and Catherine Connolly, an vocal advocate for Palestine who is endorsed by a political party and left-leaning minor parties.

Challenge for Party Head

The withdrawal also caused a problem for the leader of Fianna Fáil, the party chief, who had risked his standing by nominating an inexperienced hopeful over the reservations of fellow members.

Martin said it was about not wanting to "cause dispute" to the office of president and was correct to step down. "He acknowledged that he made an error in relation to an situation that has arisen in recent days."

Campaign Struggles

Even with a track record of competence and success in commerce and athletics – under his leadership Dublin's Gaelic football team to five straight titles – his election effort faltered through blunders that left him trailing in an survey even prior to the financial revelation.

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

Election Rules

His name may remain on the ballot in the poll taking place in late October, which will finish the long service of the current president, but voters now face a two options between a mainstream moderate hopeful and an independent leftwinger. Survey results prior to his departure gave 32 percent backing for Connolly and 23 percent for Humphreys, with the former candidate at 15 percent.

Under electoral rules, voters select candidates in order of preference. If no candidate exceeds 50% on the first count, the candidate with the least primary selections is eliminated and their ballots are redistributed to the next preference.

Likely Support Redistribution

It was expected that should Gavin be removed, most of his votes would go to Humphreys, and vice versa, increasing the likelihood that a establishment hopeful would attain the presidency for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.

Function of the President

The presidency is a primarily ceremonial position but the current and former presidents transformed it into a venue for worldwide concerns.

Surviving Hopefuls

The 68-year-old Connolly, from her home city, would add a firm left-leaning stance to that heritage. She has criticized neoliberal economics and said Hamas is "an integral component" of the Palestinian people. She has accused the alliance of warmongering and compared the country's raised military budget to the thirties, when Germany underwent rearmament.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has faced scrutiny over her time in office in cabinets that oversaw a property shortage. A Presbyterian from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been faulted for her lack of Irish language skills but said her Protestant heritage could aid in securing loyalists in the North in a reunified nation.