At six days to go, seeds of doubt are set and lies spun to conquer the electorate

WHEN only six days are left, that’s when it usually starts.

Six days before people go to the polls. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a general election or a by-election, that’s when a frenetic fatalism breaks out.

At that point, every candidate is exhausted and affronted. Sometimes the affront is at media, which has shown its true colours and revealed itself to be in the pay of the other side. Sometimes, the affront is at headquarters, for allowing the other candidate on the ticket to get away with murder. Sometimes the affront is at people on the doorsteps.