Floating Voters ?

[Bazile]

At this 22nd hour and counting , is it a waste of time for these party leaders to be bothering swooping into factory x or school x .

Surely the electorate ( including floating voters ) have heard what they have to say already .
Is a visit to a school etc , going to change / decide who you are going to vote for ?

[Baldric]

No.

[bhg481]

I think doing what they are doing doesn't do any good but NOT doing it would do a lot of harm. People would think that they were no longer interested and might vote another way.
It's a similar sort of situation to when dignitaries visit a disaster zone; they don't do any good, maybe even get in the way but, if they didn't visit, they would be accused of not caring.

[DTCwordfan]

For a moment, I thought you were talking about the Mediterranean immigrants entering Italy......perhaps they are in the future.

[andy-hughes]

I'm with bhg - anything less than going to the wire looks like complacency, and that will put voters off faster than anything.

Even if - as in previous elections, one leader could be pretty sure of getting in - they still have to go through the motions of drumming up last-minute votes, because not doing it looks like he is taking a win for granted - and that can quickly turn into a loss.

[excelsior-1]

the little coverage i have seen is of them talking to supporters surrounded by their own party banners

what is the point of that, should they not be trying to convert others to their cause?

[Hopkirk]

The trouble is when they get down to hammering out a coalition, they are going to be just plain knackered.

[Hypognosis]

@Bazile

Do you mean the hustings have an official closing time? Like 3pm?? What happens to the late night political slots on Wednesday night? Is it banned from the stroke of midnight or is it from 7am, when the polling stations open?

[saintpeter48]

I agree with 'Excelsior-1' on this, why do they take loads of their own party members, carrying banners etc, whooping and cheering with them, its soooo American! Are they afraid to face Joe Public and have confrontation ........ Of course they are! I hate it and can't wait for it to be over!

[jourdain2]

I heard on R4 today that at the last election 1 in 7 voters admitted to making his/her mind up on voting day. That may have something to do with it!

[Bazile]

//@Bazile

Do you mean the hustings have an official closing time? Like 3pm?? What happens to the late night political slots on Wednesday night? Is it banned from the stroke of midnight or is it from 7am, when the polling stations open?//

Just meaning the end of the to and froing is nearly finished

[jourdain2]

I heard on R4 today that at the last election about 1 in 7 admitted to making the decision on polling day. Just heard several people on Ch.4 news who also said that they'd make their minds up on the day. That's probably why, as well as previous answers regarding appearing complacent.

[naomi24]

I suppose the politicians have to keep the momentum going right up until the last minute, but I find it difficult to believe that people go along to vote without knowing who they're going to vote for.

[askyourgran]

I have to say there has been very little activity by our local party hopefuls. Except for the incessant Party political broadcasts, and my daily e-mails from Sam Cam and Grant Schapps and Boris asking for £20 every time they write to me, all has been quiet. I'm still bewildered how so many people can think of voting for Minibrain...none of his policies add up apart from the bill for his Moses stone.

[DaisyNonna]

No canvassers, minimal literature
Obviously some votes are more important than others

[jourdain2]

^^^ Sorry, thought the first effort hadn't sent - computer misbehaving today!