Today's parliamentary by-election in Romsey will be a two-horse race between Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, with the result "too close to call", the Liberal Democrat leader, Mr Charles Kennedy, claimed yesterday.
Mr Kennedy sought to ensure the maximum possible amount of tactical voting for his party's candidate, Ms Sandra Gidley, by claiming that Labour was not seriously contesting the by-election and that the Liberal Democrats were the only party which could beat the Tories.
The Social Security Secretary, Mr Alistair Darling, has denied that Labour has given up on the seat, saying the party was "fighting for every vote".
Mr Kennedy said Romsey voters could send a powerful message to the government, telling it that "it must deliver its promises to improve health and education" and "must also rethink its approach to pensioners and post offices".
Labour launched a last-ditch attempt yesterday to get its supporters to turn out in today's local elections, warning of a new extremism in the Conservative Party.
The Education Secretary, Mr David Blunkett, conceded at the party's final news conference that Labour faced the "danger" of a low turnout in the council elections. The Tories had created "extremist and opportunistic distractions" over the last few weeks by focusing on asylum-seekers, he said.