D-DAY FOR ELECTION HOPEFULS

It looks like being nip and tuck in two of the three Newtownabbey constituencies, with pundits predicting close contests in South Antrim and North Belfast.

The DUP's William McCrea, who is seeking re-election, is going head-to-head with UUP leader Reg Empey in South Antrim. And the unionist vote will be split three ways as TUV candidate Mel Lucas is also standing.

Sinn Fein's Mitchel McLaughlin, who topped the poll at the last Assembly election, will be hoping to increase his party's share of the vote at the expense of the SDLP's Michelle Byrne, while Antrim councillor Alan Lawther is standing for the Alliance Party.

At the time of going to print, bookmaker Paddy Power was predicting a two horse race in the constituency, with Mr Empey of the Ulster Conservatives & Unionists New Force (UCUNF) a slight favourite to take the seat ahead of Dr McCrea. Despite his good showing in the Assembly election, Mr McLaughlin is a 100/1 outsider for a Westminster win.

In North Belfast - a constituency with a new boundary which takes in large parts of Glengormley and Whiteabbey - it is expected to be a straightforward showdown between the DUP's Nigel Dodds and Sinn Fein candidate Gerry Kelly. Mr Dodds, who is seeking re-election, faces competition from Conservatives & Unionists candidate Fred Cobain, while Mr Kelly will be trying to secure the nationalist/republican vote at the expense of the SDLP's Alban Maginness. Also running in the constituency are the Alliance Party's Billy Webb and 19-year-old Independent, Martin McAuley.

According to Paddy Power, Mr Dodds is being tipped to secure re-election, but only just in front of Gerry Kelly. The long shots are Martin McAuley 100/1 and Billy Webb 150/1.

Only in East Antrim are the pundits confidently predicting the result, with Sammy Wilson a massive odds-on favourite to be re-elected ahead of Rodney McCune (UCUNF), a 13/2 shot. But hoping to cause an upset are outsiders Gerry Lynch (Alliance), Justin McCamphill (SDLP), Oliver McMullan (Sinn Fein) and Sammy Morrison (TUV).

Meanwhile, people who haven't received a polling card are being reminded that they can still vote without one as long as they are registered to vote. Anyone who doesn't know where their local polling station is should contact the Electoral Office on 0800 4320712.

n For full profiles of all the candidates standing in South Antrim, East Antrim and North Belfast see pages 24 & 25. And check out next week's Times for all the local results and reaction...