Jackie’s political astuteness and knowledge of the grassroots were put to good use in his role as director of elections for Fianna Fáil in Kerry South. His aim was to deliver two of the three seats for the party – a difficult task nearly always surrounded by controversy. However, he frequently ensured the election of two FF TDs in the seventies and eighties and earned a reputation as a first class political strategist over a string of elections. He also learnt a lot from the Blaney style of electioneering. His unrivalled knowledge of the FF grassroots, cumann network and key party people in every parish was a critical ingredient in his success. Also a good motivator of party workers during a campaign, he always said a thorough canvass was the number one priority. An expert canvasser himself, he also went out and knocked on doors often delivering votes for FF from unexpected quarters. "If someone was not at home when canvassers called the canvassers would have to go back again, a number of times if necessary. Every voter had to be canvassed and no more about it," Jackie says. Finally, he had to make sure that every possible FF vote was "got out" on polling day. A list of voters seeking transport would be placed on the wall of the election office and transport arranged for them on the day.