GREAT minds think alike -- we hope. In completely coincidental bursts of originality, two presidential candidates have come up with the exact same campaign slogan.

Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell and Independent Mary Davis have both adopted "Pride At Home, Respect Abroad."

The only difference is Ms Davis's has an extra full stop between the two phrases. The slogan appears on Mr Mitchell's website and literature and is the key theme of Ms Davis' campaign.

Both campaigns yesterday claimed they were the first to come up with the phrase, with Mr Mitchell's spokesman saying they took a shine to it in mid-July.

Ms Davis's spokeswoman said they had adopted it four weeks ago, but insisted it had been a key part of the campaign "message" as far back as May.

Labour's Michael D Higgins also talks about pride but, perhaps because of his artistic and poetic background, came up with a phrase all by himself.

"A president who will do us proud," boast Michael D's fliers .

Fine Gael Laois-Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan, Mr Mitchell's director of elections, described it as "a bizarre coincidence".

"A classic use of the old cliche 'imitation the best form and most sincere form of flattery'," he added.

Although exactly who imitated whom has yet to be clarified.

The Davis campaign used a company called Zero G to design its posters and a spokeswoman could not say exactly how many have been printed off.

However, she insisted that "all design and artwork has been completed and we will not be changing".

A Fine Gael spokesman said the Mitchell posters had yet to be printed off, but enough leaflets had been printed to meet the immediate needs of TDs and local organisations.

The spokesman could not say which marketing company FG had employed, and could not say if they will be keeping the slogan.

Irish Independent