David Trimble was not suspicious. He expected a handshake, nothing more. Even his RUC close protection personnel were caught off guard in Banbridge last Saturday when a member of a flute band grabbed the thumb on Mr Trimble's open hand and tried to break it.
The North's First Minister was unharmed and his security detail swiftly dealt with the offender but a member of his entourage admitted it was a "hairy moment". The UUP leader's critics had predicted many similar moments for him in Upper Bann, some even suggesting he couldn't set foot in the constituency. Anti-Agreement members of his own party forecast he wouldn't be reselected for his Westminster seat, never mind re-elected.
But with a hop, skip, jump and darting runs, all characteristics of his speedy and impulsive canvassing style, Mr Trimble was back in his constituency this week, knocking on doors in Banbridge, Lurgan and even Portadown, enjoying warm weather and a largely warm response.
Mr John Dobson, a Banbridge solicitor and Mr Trimble's election agent, is candid that consideration is given to where Mr Trimble canvasses. "We haven't told him yet but we won't be doing Portadown town centre on Saturday after all. There's an Orange band parade on," he said. He wants to avoid "unnecessary abuse" but may yet decide to take his candidate into the staunchly loyalist Mourneview estate in Lurgan, despite rivals' claims "if he goes in there he won't come out".
"People forget that in David's Vanguard days he used to chain himself to railings. There's more to him than the academic with the mild dandruff problem," retorts the straight-talking Mr Dobson.
Mr Trimble, often perceived as lacking in charisma, clearly has some form of celebrity status on doorsteps in Thorn Heights. "I see you every minute of the day on the television. You're not as bad as I thought you were," said an elderly man cheekily, as he stood up from tending to his plants.
The letter of resignation as First Minister that comes into force on July 1st in the absence of progress on IRA decommissioning is raised by a number of people. Mr Trimble answers in layman's terms. "Our experience with these guys is that they only move when they're under pressure," he tells a woman.
Pausing to admire a back garden though gaps in a wooden fence, Mr Trimble calls his wife to inspect the landscaping. Daphne - a politician's dream wife who even manages to bump into "old school friends" on the campaign trail - takes the opportunity to gently chastise him. "Yes David, it's amazing what some people do with their gardens."
At one door an RUC officer bluntly says he cannot vote Ulster Unionist. "I'm not a DUP voter but I've no other choice this time." He is fearful of the apparent gains being made by Sinn Fein with nothing in return. Mr Trimble admits: "The tactics I'm following may or may not work but we are trying very hard."
Mr Dobson is pleasantly surprised as he drives through Portadown on Tuesday. "Ah there's the boss on high. That's unusual. The posters usually come down the night they go up."
Several of Mr Trimble's posters remain defiantly strapped to lamp-posts around the town, which is still caught in the vicious circle of annual disturbances surrounding the Drumcree stand-off, with many blaming Mr Trimble for not doing enough to get the local Orange lodge down the Garvaghy Road. Setting off from the top of the Tandragee road in the town, Mr Trimble is relaxed as he chats about that afternoon's Belfast Telegraph opinion poll, which was positive for the UUP. "I always knew the DUP had been reading it wrong all along."
A young man in a blue Rover car shouts the only taunt of the evening. "David, ya traitor," he cries, drawing a salute from Mr Trimble. "At least he used his first name - `Trimble traitor' sounds much worse," remarks a UUP canvasser.
In Annaghdale Place, a working-class street, a woman hovers around her front gate and challenges Mr Trimble with "one question . . . What's your policy on the health service." "Is she a plant?" jibes a reporter.
On the same street a young man in army-coloured clothing takes a drag of his cigarette as Mr Trimble goes to shake his hand. He slowly turns his head 90 degrees to exhale. Mr Trimble is not fazed by the unusual response - "Thank you" he says as he closes the gate.
Drumcree or decommissioning are not the priorities for an elderly man on the Tandragee road who gives Mr Trimble a detailed account of the local pothole problem.
In the Olde Golf Links development, Mr Trimble exchanges pleasantries with the spokesman for the Portadown Orangemen, Mr David Jones, who is out canvassing with a loudspeaker attached to his car. "I didn't realise he'd be down here," admitted Mr Jones, an anti-agreement candidate for Craigavon district council.
Mr Trimble canvassed at a slower pace than usual in Lurgan on Wednesday evening. A loudspeaker on the rival campaign van trailing him was turned up to maximum as the vehicle stopped at the end of each driveway.
"Tony Blair deceived you, David Trimble let you down. Help bring an end to the republican agenda. Vote Simpson, Vote DUP" bellowed around the unionist Irwin estate. The driver, Mr James McCrum, claimed "inside information" helped him locate the Ulster Unionist canvassers.
"I deliberately go more slowly when I have opposition. But the reception on the doorsteps is just as good," said Mr Trimble.
Soon the number of local children following him increased to over 30 and the "Traitor" chants began. He continued unperturbed and appeared to enjoy the entourage. "Don't blame me for the entertainment," he told one unsuspecting householder as she opened her door.
Nine-year-old Peter Briggs vented his anger at Mr Trimble but the DUP was also the target of his under-age political ambivalence. "Simpson should have Doh! on his posters," said the boy. Mr Trimble, obviously not a fan of the cult cartoon, didn't get the joke.
The DUP candidate, Mr David Simpson, arrived and drove slowly up to the UUP team - he wanted a word with Cllr Sammy Gardiner to smooth things over. A DUP supporter had allegedly struck Mr Gardiner in the back and he in turn had threatened to report it to the police.
"I told him I'd let it go this time," Mr Gardiner recounts to the party leader as Mr Simpson's car pulls away. "Well, you had him worried," replied Mr Trimble, before he darted purposefully up the next path and hopped on to the doorstep with a spring in his step.