The placing of billboard stands for the Nationalist Party over the past days continued to fuel discussion about the general election, even though such boards have been used in conjunction with local elections in the past.

With what appears to be days before the Prime Minister blows the whistle, the discussion will soon shift from what the probable date is likely to be to which party is most likely to win.

Opinion polls are often judged to be good indicators of the pulse of the public but sources familiar with the analysis of polls told The Times there were a number of factors that were negatively affecting the accuracy of such exercises.

Polls are based on a random sample of people chosen from the telephone directory.

"In the 1980s, the response rate of people used to be about 85 per cent and when you get a result showing a party has the support of 40 per cent and the other enjoys the support of 45 per cent you can safely assume it is the one with 45 per cent that will win because it is easier for it to get another six per cent of the vote rather than the other party getting an additional 11 per cent of the votes on polling day.

"But now the situation is different. The response rate is often as low as 35 per cent and, with such a response, even if results of the survey shows one party having 12 per cent support and the other 22 per cent, with other parties having another one per cent, it is impossible to forecast who would win," the sources said.

Another issue in opinion polls is that many people are using them to convey a message to the parties.

"Hence, a person might tell the interviewer he would not be voting for the party he used to vote for because of a decision or another and this in an attempt to try and influence that decision. However, at the end of the day, the person would still vote for his party," the sources added.

For the next general election, there are 300,000 eligible voters and the party that wins with a 3,000 vote majority would effectively be winning by a margin of just one per cent. Such a narrow margin is not something that can be gauged by opinion polls.

Various considerations and issues come into play when voting.

Practically all the candidates approached by The Times to find out what were the more common topics raised during house visits said Mepa. Another common issue is the cost of living.

Nationalist Party candidate Pippo Psaila, who is campaigning in the 10th district, feels people are more mature.

"The hole in the pavement is important but it will not affect the way one votes. The cost of living is another issue though people in my district realise there is imported inflation which a party can do little about.

"The major concern in Sliema is building sites. Here again, people appreciate new regulations have been introduced and express hope there would be real vigilance," Mr Psaila said.

The Labour Party's deputy leader for party affairs, Michael Falzon, who is canvassing on the same district and on the second, agrees on some points and begs to differ on others.

"The construction issue is very tangible in Sliema and Gżira but most people complain about the cost of living, making ends meet and I had no one speaking about imported inflation," he said.

"Everyone wishes to have a better quality of life. In the second district, housing and alternative accommodation are also very prominent issues. There are several social problems and people enquire how one can help them obtain social benefits. Young people are concerned about the cost of housing. The elderly are worried about the prices of medicines and the health service.

"Jobs are also on the agenda. Unskilled people want jobs that are hard to come by in today's world," Dr Falzon said.

PN candidate Karl Gouder, campaigning on the 10th district, said some people complained that the party was not listening enough to its supporters' complaints.

"Some argue that the party needs to have its ears pulled but fear that, if Labour wins, things will be much worse for them. They argue that the PN should be in government but their problems have to be solved. They also acknowledge that the results the country achieved over the past three years were the best we've ever had and this would help the PN to be re-elected," Mr Gouder said.

Gino Cauchi, a Labour candidate in the fourth and 10th district, said people were worried about the value of money and the introduction of the euro had confused them as they are no longer able to keep track of what they are spending.

"Youngsters and their parents often argue that one can find a job but the problem was that the conditions were not that rosy and employers adopted a take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

"There is also concern both about delays in projects as well as about the quality of works being carried out. People are more concerned that works are not up to standard rather than by the delay," Mr Cauchi said.

PN candidate Marthese Portelli, who is campaigning in Gozo, experienced a very different reality.

"I work in both Malta and Gozo and the mentality of constituents is so different. Gozitans are aware that local issues have to be dealt with by local councils. I find that Gozitans want to know more about policy, about where the country is heading, what the future will hold for them and their children. People want to feel certain that the policies that will be adopted are sound and that they will work. The future of their children and the availability of jobs for different levels of education are important issues and they appreciate it that these are being addressed.

"EU membership and the opportunities it has given many Gozitans is also something that many speak favourably about," Dr Portelli said.