Irish presidential elections have sometimes been characterised as part of a culture war, where different sides of a cultural and policy space compete for the soul of Ireland. Alternatively, voters might choose on the basis of partisan loyalties, candidate characteristics, or as a way of punishing, rewarding or influencing government. This article argues that the 2011 presidential election was almost an ideology-free zone where candidates' positions on specific issues were less important than their ability to withstand character tests. It argues that despite Higgins's landslide victory, his support was soft, and only came to him after all other candidates had been effectively eliminated from contention by allegations during the campaign. © 2012 Political Studies Association of Ireland.