A TRAVELLER woman has said that Peter Casey is "kidding himself" after he rejected claims his support was bolstered by populist views.
Mr Casey, who finished runner-up in the presidential race, claimed people voted for him because he spoke for "middle Ireland" who were working and "paying the bills".
He previously made comments that Travellers should not be recognised as an ethnic minority, because they are "basically people camping in someone else's land".
The Derry man yesterday said he now planned to join Fianna Fáil with a view to becoming Taoiseach, although leader Micheál Martin poured cold water on the idea.
Mr Casey said he intended to run in the next general election in Donegal, with a view to becoming head of a renewed and revitalised Fianna Fáil.
The party's leader said said Mr Casey lacked a “coherent or cohesive” political vision, however.
Mr Casey had come under increased scrutiny in presidential debates and had some of his comments labelled "populist" and "racist" by other candidates.
Kathleen Lawrence, who works at Traveller outreach programme Pavee Point, said that Mr Casey had used an already disenfranchised community to bolster his lead in the polls.
"The fact that he garnered 20 per cent of votes is disappointing but it's not surprising given his comments," she said.
"People are drained, working full time and barely scraping by and that's awful, but the fact Peter Casey used an ethnic minority to make up the blame, that is disturbing.
"A good portion of his votes came from his Traveller comments. I know he's trying to convince people that isn't the case, but he's really trying to kid himself."
