It's remarkable how smart green wellies can transform a man. David Trimble emerges from his car every inch the leader of the Ulster Unionists. A smart change of footwear later, he looks the Northern equivalent of a Haughey-esque country squire. Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor, reports.
He strides purposefully across a neat field in his Upper Bann constituency where he has been canvassing towards the Ulster Unionist-branded helicopter.
We rise into a slanting November sun, scattering the sheep. We veer for Paisley's back yard in North Antrim. Skirting the shores of Lough Neagh, the helicopter scythes its way north.
Below, safe unionist territory blends seamlessly into enemy strongholds. In the near distance are the badlands of the Sinn Féin Mid-Ulster. To the south is the Mallon stronghold, to the east, the fringes of West Belfast, but it is to DUP heartland that the Trimble chopper-hop campaign is headed.
We dip into a field near Ahog- hill and are met by the local press and candidates - who call him David - and do-or-die party workers who call him Mr Trimble.
He changes back into his city shoes and is transfigured. The mood is cheery as the motorcade moves off. Candidates say all is well, there is no shortage of tales of DUP difficulties. Paisley senior is losing it, they say, and Paisley junior is unpopular.
There is much wondering how the SDLP will fare against Sinn Féin, but there is no doubt as to who the real enemy is here.