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David Cornock | 17:45 UK time, Wednesday, 5 May 2010

If I ever hear the phrase "on the doorstep" again, it will be too soon.

One Welsh Liberal Democrat threw in the phrase in a sentence that also reminded us which was the only poll that counts. At least it gave me a full house at election bingo.

Election days are usually exciting, but some of the longest months of my life have been spent on the campaign trail.

Everyone remembers the "Portillo moment" from Tony Blair's first landslide. Fewer people remember the campaign itself, which was more of a victory procession.

Whatever the result, this campaign has been rather more memorable, thanks to, among others, Gillian Duffy, Nick Clegg, Eurfyl ap Gwilym and the televised debates.

For all the talk of an digital election dominated by blogs and tweets, this has been a campaign where TV had the greatest influence, from Nick Clegg's rise to Gordon Brown's humiliation.

In Wales, the parliamentary leaders have enjoyed a lower profile than last time. Three of the four main parties have chosen to use their Welsh leaders rather than their Westminster ones. Would-be Secretaries of State for Wales have enjoyed less scrutiny than they otherwise might.

There were gaps in the manifestoes, and not just on the key question of how to get Britain out of the red. Conservative plans to reform the Barnett formula and make St David's Day failed to make the party's manifesto.

Labour, whose campaign talked more about the Conservatives than their own plans in Wales, said they would cut lesser-priority programmes to cut the deficit, but have not said which ones.

Plaid Cymru's manifesto was a very readable brochure but light on detail in some areas. The Welsh Liberal Democrat manifesto was notable for airbrushing out the party's candidate to be Secretary of State for Wales - and for its use of fake policemen.

The campaign is almost over. I'm about to be acquainted with my own doorstep.

The polls suggest, just hours before the polling station opens, more of us than ever before at this stage have yet to decide how to vote.

If the polls are right, on Friday it may even be difficult to work out who has won, although possibly easier to see who has lost.

With all the talk of coalitions, pacts and minority government, perhaps it would be easier to settle it via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

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