On a sparkling sunny day, Bob McCartney walks down Royal Avenue in Belfast as though he owns it. The silver-haired barrister waves to shoppers with the air of a man sure of his own abilities.
His opponents and most political commentators predict he will poll poorly in Thursday's election. They insist his vehement anti-agreement stance is out of touch.
"They will all have red faces," says Mr McCartney. He will "blast" PUP candidate David Ervine. He doesn't think much of Ulster Unionist Jim Nicholson either. "Some people will always vote Ulster Unionist. I call them trapped voters. They would support Jim Nicholson even if he sprouted horns and a cloven foot.
"But I will take plenty of votes from him. He says he is an expert on Europe. Three times I've challenged him to publicly debate the issues - the euro, the Amsterdam Treaty, the Common Agricultural Policy - and he has run scared every time."
While there is tough talk for his opponents, Mr McCartney is a different man with voters. He might now live in leafy North Down but he is Shankill Road born and bred.
He charms harassed women trailing screaming children around the shops just as easily as the businessmen on their lunch-break with their golf umbrellas and mozzarella rolls.
"God bless you, Mr McCartney, you're a marvellous man," says one shopper shaking his hand profusely. "You always talk sense," says another.
"You and Dr Paisley are the only two real men we have in Ulster," says a woman. A schoolteacher praises his "perfect diction". Like the DUP leader, he has a large female following. Among unionists, he is "the thinking woman's Paisley", a canvasser jokes.
Mr McCartney has clocked up 3,300 miles on the campaign trail in 12 days. He has been everywhere - even nationalist strongholds in Derry. "There are no no-go areas in Northern Ireland for Bob McCartney."
It's the first time he has run for Europe and he is enjoying it much more than his Westminster or Assembly campaigns. He doesn't have to focus on mundane matters. He can turn his mind to the grand scheme of things.
"And I like an election where personality counts. I've got a big advantage. Like me or loathe me, everybody in Northern Ireland knows me."
"You mightn't remember me but I went to school with you, Bob," says a Shankill Road man and the pair recall old friends and teachers.
"I'll vote for you if you get me a new house," says a woman. "Would you not take a new man instead?" asks Mr McCartney and the vote is soon secured.
A middle-aged woman is so busy gazing in a shop window, she doesn't see the candidate approach. "You must be picking your engagement ring," he jokes.
"I worked for the Ulster Unionists for 15 years and Bob's the easiest package I've ever had to sell," says UK Unionist election agent Tom Sheridan.
"Last time I saw you was in Lisburn courthouse," a man tells Mr McCartney, who has only one question - "Did I win?". The man nods his head and they both roar with laughter.