First Minister Alex Salmond visits St Andrews today, as the SNP continue attempts to pick up disgruntled voters in the traditional Liberal Democrat heartland.
The Courier revealed that the nationalists are targeting north east Fife as an area where they can benefit from anger at the Lib Dem coalition with the Conservatives at Westminster.
Those efforts will be ramped up a notch this afternoon when the SNP leader returns to the town where he went to university to canvas with local candidate Rod Campbell.
The hastily arranged visit comes as the nationalists divert campaigning resources into areas that have previously been viewed as Lib Dem strongholds.
“As a graduate of St Andrews, I have a real affection for north east Fife and can’t wait to get out and about in the constituency,” Mr Salmond told The Courier.
“Across north east Fife former Lib Dem voters are telling us how disappointed and disillusioned they are as they watch their party prop up a Tory government that is making decisions that could deeply damage the community here.
“I believe that the SNP’s fairness agenda, our support for families, for education and investment in industries that matter so much for this area, such as tourism, food, farming and fishing, chime with the aspirations of local people.”
The SNP targeting north east Fife represents a marked shift in strategy, as the area has long been considered safe Lib Dem territory and an area where the nationalists have a low base of support.
In the 2007 Holyrood election, Lib Dem candidate Iain Smith won the seat with a majority of more than 5000, with the Conservatives’ Ted Brocklebank coming second.
The SNP were in third place, after polling only 6735 votes-almost 7000 fewer than the Lib Dems.
But party strategists believe opponents of the coalition are unlikely to defect to the Conservatives, and believe the SNP can take advantage.
“There is little choice between the Lib Dems and Tories in this constituency and neither have given any indication of support for this community in their plans for Scotland’s future,” Mr Salmond said.
“As in the Highlands and Aberdeenshire, we are seeing people increasingly turning to the SNP to support their community.
“Rod Campbell is an excellent candidate and will make an excellent representative for the area.
“I know Rod will not let anyone off the hook when it comes to fighting for north east Fife and will work extremely hard to earn the trust of folk in north east Fife.”
The Liberal Democrats have insisted they are receiving a good reaction on the doorsteps of north east Fife and rejected SNP claims their vote has collapsed.
However, party leader Tavish Scott has admitted the UK party leader’s pact with the Tories at Westminster had made the Holyrood campaign “difficult.”