Âé¶¹Ô¼ÅÄ NEWS

Make your mind up time

Brian Taylor
28 Apr 07, 12:05 PM

Alex Salmond, politician, weâ€™re used to. But Alex Salmond, sporting hero? At Stirling University today, he took to the tennis courts â€“ and appeared to wield a fairly mean backhand.

Heâ€™s spent the campaign in modest mode but couldnâ€™t resist mentioning that he had once triumphed in a tennis tournament.

However, he added that his victory was due to an injury sustained by his opponent who was two sets up at the time.

This was delivered with a broad grin. In fact, the Nationalists are finding it hard to assume any other countenance. They try, they really try, to look grave and concerned. But then they read another opinion poll â€“ and canâ€™t avoid the odd guffaw.

Privately, though, listen to the sensible strategists on the SNP side (these days, they are numerous â€“ and serious.)

They will tell you that the voters are engaged as never before. They cross the street, not to avoid canvassers but to sound them out on a range of policy issues.

However, that engagement contains a range of responses. There are switchers aplenty, say the SNP team. But there are many others who are undecided. They are engaging with the SNP â€“ but to question them, to challenge them, to put them to the test.

Also, the strategists know that a lead in the polls might not translate into a uniform swing across Scotland. For example, the SNP might pile up big majorities in one part of the country, say the North-east, while falling short in the seats they need elsewhere, say in the West.

Traditionally, the last weekend of a campaign is billed as â€œmake your mind up timeâ€. Voters look at their options, seriously. Helping them in that process will be the Âé¶¹Ô¼ÅÄâ€™s TV election special with the leaders on Sunday evening.
Iâ€™ll be scrutinising that, eagerly.

Before that, though, Iâ€™m off to Tannadice this weekend to see the lads triumph once more. Câ€™mon the Terrors!

Everything you wanted to know .. .

Betsan Powys
28 Apr 07, 10:49 AM

I'm surrounded by photos of candidates , marker pens, a terrifying document called "Everything you wanted to know about regional lists but were afraid to ask", polling details, manifesto pledges ... in other words, I'm doing my homework for next Thursday night.

Pinned on the wall next to me is a reminder of who we'll be talking to that night. I don't mean candidates, agents, analysts but who'll be at home watching and listening - people we've been trying to engage and say something to throughout the campaign.

A postcard's arrived from the Dysynni Valley. It's from Louise or as she signs off (No 60 of Wales 60). P.S. I live by the dot. She's been telling us how beautiful the place is and sends a card to prove it.

On Tuesday I was chatting to another couple of W60s - Dave Burton and Jason Lewis. Dave B has been campaigning to get something done about putting speed bumps on the road that goes past his house. No-one took much notice he said until he happened to mention he was now 'a member of the Wales 60!'. He's planning to vote tactically. Jason is still not a big fan of the Assembly and is jetting off to the Canaries on the night of May 3rd. But he'ill vote before he goes.

Mary Elen Rowlands from Anglesey said she'd had a great time since being 'elected' as one of the 60! She's talked to politicians, been braver and said more than she ever thought she would.

Ross Thomas has told Five Live listeners all about the battles his had with his 7 housemates in Swansea who put up Tory posters in their windows just to annoy him. He'd like to be a Labour AM one day.

Nearly all of the 60 have been on the radio, tv, have written online pieces or have taken part somehow in our coverage of this campaign - and there's a few days to go. Not only do they live on. They've helped us tell - and sell -a story.

Back to briefing notes and to a challenge from the Welsh Affairs Editor to play a game of "guess the party from the outfit the candidates have chosen".

Game on.

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This is Âé¶¹Ô¼ÅÄ News's election 2007 blog. The political editors from across the UK will report here throughout the Assembly and Parliament elections.