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In a stunning development, a key main hopefuls in Ireland's election for president has withdrawn from the campaign, upending the entire competition.

Withdrawal Announcement Shakes Up Campaign Landscape

Fianna Fáil's Jim Gavin withdrew on Sunday night following revelations about an outstanding payment to a previous occupant, converting the election into an uncertain two-horse race between a centre-right former government minister and an independent leftwing member of parliament.

Gavin, 54, a political novice who joined the campaign after professional experiences in sports, airline industry and defense, stepped aside after it was revealed he had failed to return a overpaid rent of over three thousand euros when he was a property owner about 16 years ago, during a period of financial difficulty.

"It was my fault that was inconsistent with my values and the standards I set myself. Corrective actions are underway," he declared. "I have also thought long and hard, concerning the influence of the current political contest on the health of my loved ones and companions.

"After evaluating everything, I've chosen to exit from the race for the presidency with immediate action and go back to my family."

Contest Reduced to Leading Candidates

The most dramatic event in a presidential campaign in recent history narrowed the contest to Heather Humphreys, a ex-minister who is representing the governing moderate right political party Fine Gael, and another candidate, an frank supporter of Palestinian rights who is supported by Sinn Féin and minor progressive groups.

Challenge for Party Head

The withdrawal also caused a problem for the taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader, the party chief, who had risked his standing by selecting an untried candidate over the skepticism of fellow members.

Martin said the candidate wished to avoid "bring controversy" 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 emerged recently."

Campaign Struggles

Despite a reputation for competence and success in enterprise and sports – Gavin had steered Dublin's Gaelic football team to five straight titles – his political bid struggled through blunders that left him trailing in an public opinion measure even ahead of the debt news.

Party members who had been against choosing the candidate said the episode was a "serious miscalculation" that would have "consequences" – a implied threat to the leader.

Ballot Process

His name may still appear for selection in the poll taking place in late October, which will end the 14-year tenure of the current president, but voters now face a binary choice between a centrist establishment candidate and an autonomous progressive. Opinion research conducted ahead of Gavin's exit gave Connolly a third of the vote and 23 percent for Humphreys, with 15 percent supporting Gavin.

Under electoral rules, voters select candidates in order of preference. In case nobody reaches a majority in round one, the hopeful with the fewest first preference votes is eliminated and their votes are transferred to the next preference.

Likely Support Redistribution

Observers anticipated that if Gavin was eliminated, most of his votes would go to Humphreys, and vice versa, enhancing the possibility that a establishment hopeful would attain the presidency for the Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition.

Presidential Duties

The role of president is a largely symbolic post but Higgins and his predecessors transformed it into a stage for international matters.

Surviving Hopefuls

Connolly, 68, from her home city, would bring a strong leftwing voice to that legacy. Connolly has attacked neoliberal economics and said Hamas is "part of the fabric" of the Palestinian community. Connolly has alleged Nato of militarism and likened Germany's increased defence spending to the thirties, when the Nazi leader built up military forces.

The 62-year-old Humphreys, has encountered examination over her time in office in governments that presided over a housing crisis. Being a member of that faith from the county Monaghan near the border, she has also been criticised over her inability to speak Irish but commented her religious background could assist in gaining Northern Ireland's unionists in a reunified nation.