Big guns were wheeled out to fire the closing shots in the battle for South Antrim yesterday. The Ulster Unionist leader did a "David and David meet the people" walkabout with the party's candidate, Mr David Burnside, in Glen gormley's Northcott shopping centre.
The stroll was slightly hampered by the North's assembled press pack which hung on the two Davids' every word. "At least the media have finally realised that the election is on. If the turnout at the polling-stations is anything like this we'll be well satisfied," joked one of Mr Trimble's aides.
Mr Trimble approached the owner of a picture gallery. "Sorry to disturb you. May I introduce our candidate, David Burnside, to you?" "Sure, but if you break anything in the shop you pay for it," came the reply.
Meanwhile, the DUP proudly presented its latest supporter, the British Conservative MP, Mr Andrew Hunter, to the media. The press conference was supposed to take place at Stormont but was moved to party headquarters at the last minute, resulting in a number of hacks arriving with hanging tongues. "They told us there mustn't be any [party] politics at Stormont," the Rev Ian Paisley said with a wry smile.
Mr Hunter was "no Johnny-come-lately to the worthy cause of Ulster", Dr Paisley told the media. "He has been to Northern Ireland more often than the current Conservative spokesman for Northern Ireland," he added, his voice unmistakably dripping with reproach.