THE battle for South Dorset looks set to come down to the wire as the parliamentary hopefuls make a final push for votes.
The six candidates are touring the constituency as they target undecided voters in what is one of the country’s key marginal seats.
Polling stations opened at 7am today but the candidates will continue to canvass for votes until they close at 10pm.
It is a fight between Labour’s Jim Knight, who has been the MP for South Dorset for nine years, Tory Richard Drax, Lib Dem Ros Kayes, Brian Heatley for the Green Party, UKIP candidate Mike Hobson, and Andy Kirkwood for Go MAD and Vote for Yourself.
Jim Knight was out talking to voters yesterday, including on Portland and outside schools, as well as knocking on doors.
He said: “Today I will be joining the very many people who are helping out my campaign to remind people to vote and that it’s a straight two-horse race between Tory and Labour.
“What’s striking about this election is no one party has captured the imagination of the electorate so a lot of it is going to be down to who can get their voters down to the polling station.”
Richard Drax had an early morning start at Weymouth sorting office yesterday before going to Portland to meet constituents at bus stops, shops, and schools, before heading to Weymouth town centre to meet shoppers.
He said: “The idea is to meet as many of our prospective constituents as we can.
“I’m not nervous – I’m looking forward to it very much.”
Ros Kayes was touring Weymouth yesterday with a trailer and loudhailer.
She said: “Today we are going out all over the constituency and giving it quite a big push.
“This goes right down to the line. I’m living on adrenaline.”
Andy Kirkwood was ‘taking it easy’ the day before the election. He said: “I think people at this stage have pretty much decided what they’re going to do.
“I think I have a fighting chance because people can see the concept of cutting out the middle man and voting for yourself.”
Mike Hobson said anyone still on the campaign trail was ‘pretty desperate’.
He said: “The three major parties are scrabbling around for the last votes. People really should have made their minds up long ago.
“We have done our share but we have got private vehicles around the area with posters making ourselves known. We will put some token appearances in around the area today.”
Green Party candidate Brian Heatley was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile in West Dorset candidates will be canvassing to win over floating voters until the last minute today.
Labour candidate Steve Bick will be touring the constituency in a car with a loudspeaker – but he will also be supporting South Dorset Labour candidate Jim Knight.
Mr Bick said: “At the end of the day we do want Dorset to retain a Labour MP.”
Tory Oliver Letwin will be rallying activists to get the vote out across the county but will also be knocking on doors.
Lib Dem Sue Farrant said she would be knocking on doors and canvassing right up until 10pm across the constituency.
UKIP’s Oliver Chisholm has done most of his canvassing and will be heading for a polling station with his rosette.
Susan Greene, from the Green Party, will also be making efforts to make sure she gains as many last minute votes.
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