The SDLP yesterday launched a campaign slogan it hopes will highlight its central role in laying the foundations for the peace process.
"It's working. Let's build on it," will appear on billboards and posters around the North.
The SDLP leader, Mr John Hume, stressed the new political dispensation was succeeding.
"Let's build on the transformation from despair to hope, let's build on our people's desire to leave the past behind," he said.
"New jobs, new investment, new opportunities. The people have seen, and so far they like what they see. But we cannot rest on our laurels. This is the time to move forward into real politics," Mr Hume added.
The party deputy leader, Mr Seamus Mallon, was upbeat that the policing issue could be resolved in negotiations soon after the elections if the British government adapts legislation to mirror the original Patten report.
However, he stressed the UUP leader, Mr David Trimble's post-dated letter of resignation demanding IRA decommissioning presented an additional problem. "We are going to have to see if we can once again dig out those who have dug a hole for themselves," Mr Mallon said.
The Ulster Unionists yesterday launched an attack on the DUP election manifesto with Mr Trimble claiming that if any unionist party was in decline it was his anti-agreement rivals.
He said if there was any realistic chance of a UUP electoral meltdown the DUP would be running more candidates in the Westminster and local elections.
"But as you can see they are quite desperate to find candidates and if you look at the Rev William McCrea's family, Willie is standing, his wife is standing and his son.
"I think if there is a party that is in decline it is the DUP. Its vote is dropping, its organisation is in pieces, and they have difficulty finding candidates," he said.
The DUP was an abbreviation for "don't use pledges, don't use promises and don't use plans," according to Mr Trimble. He said their manifesto was a "feeble attempt" at a wrecker's manifesto.
The DUP will today launch a mock UUP manifesto at their party headquarters.
Meanwhile, the Progressive Unionist Party yesterday introduced 29 candidates for the local government elections at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.
The party will run Westminster candidates in east and south Belfast and is considering fielding a candidate in west Belfast.