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Fri 02 Feb 2007Gap narrows between alternative coalitionsThe alternative coalitions are polling neck and neck, according to the latest Irish Times/TNS mrbi survey which shows a decline of five percentage points in the combined support for both Government parties since December. Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are now just one point ahead of the Fine Gael-Labour alternative.The poll is particularly bad news for the Progressive Democrats who are at just 1 per cent, the lowest rating for the party in an mrbi poll since its foundation in 1985. However, the satisfaction rating of the party leader, Michael McDowell, is up 6 per cent.