2011 Irish presidential election party was unlikely to run a candidate both for financial reasons and also because it was unlikely that a Fianna Fáil nominee could be successful. In early August 2011 there was press speculation that RTÉ broadcaster Gay Byrne might seek a nomination. On 6 August Micheál Martin rang Byrne at his holiday home to indicate that Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members would facilitate his nomination. Byrne indicated that he had yet to make a decision on whether to put his name forward, but said that if he did so he would not run under the Fianna Fáil banner but as an
2008 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection personality (ability to work well with McCain), and preparedness for assuming the office of the presidency. The Associated Press reported that McCain had composed a list of 20 or so potential running mates. Over two dozen names had been offered as viable potential running mates by the "Kansas City Star", the "Salt Lake Tribune", the "New York Sun", the "Indianapolis Star", the "Saint Louis Post Dispatch", the "Times of India", and "The Globe and Mail". This list includes both names that had been mentioned in several sources and some much less likely candidates: 2008 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection