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Campaign analysis: Wednesday May 4
Daniel Forman's daily diary of the election campaign.
Wednesday May 4, 11:30am
Oliver Letwin may have jokingly invited journalists to a party at the Treasury on Saturday but there will be no such complacency from Labour.
Today will be spent drumming home the 'every vote counts' message in marginal seats, starting with Finchley and Golders Green where this morning's press conference was held.
Baroness Thatcher's old seat is a symbolic stronghold that Labour has been proud to hold since 1997. It is also one of a handful of constituencies where the Conservatives are polling well, outperforming the national picture and suggesting their targeting strategy is working well in the South East.
The Labour message is simple and, in part, backed up by the polls - only they and the Tories can win, therefore abstentions and support for other parties are effectively votes for Michael Howard.
Labour turnout has always been the biggest single variable, and polls showing large leads for the party may not help. Increased participation through postal votes and decent weather might just make the difference.
Howard himself chose not to hold his usual morning press conference, preferring John Major's approach of being seen among ordinary people and taking on the hecklers.
He is focussing on the home counties and North Yorkshire in an attempt to take back some natural Tory territory.
He also knows any media grilling would have been dominated by questions he would prefer to take on Friday, such as how long he will stay on as leader for.
Charles Kennedy - having angrily rejected the Labour line that Lib Dem votes will let the Conservatives in - is also revisiting the scene of a symbolic triumph. His party's by-election win in Brent East was the highpoint of his leadership so far. Defending these gains will be as important as making more in the bid to show momentum.
However on his way home to Scotland Kennedy will also stop off in Leeds, the kind of northern city he hopes to overtake the Tories in and position the Lib Dems for a big breakthrough in four or five years time.
All three leaders have also tried to sum up their policy messages and, while they will do their utmost to get their vote out, they will also begin to feel a slight sense of helplessness.
There is not much more they can do now other than plan the victory/defeat parties.
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