The European election presents nationalists in the North with a historic opportunity to create the biggest political upset in recent years, according to the Sinn Fein senior negotiator, Mr Martin McGuinness.
In a reiteration of Sinn Fein's previous call to nationalist voters to maximise their representation in Europe by electing two MEPs on June 10th, Mr McGuinness said the election of the Sinn Fein chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, would "complement" the work being done in Europe by SDLP leader, Mr John Hume.
"While it is understandable that any political party would like to top the poll in an election, the political imperative in this election is to ensure maximum nationalist representation in Europe," said Mr McGuinness.
In the 1994 European elections, the Democratic Unionist Party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, topped the poll by 1,200 votes over Mr Hume. The SDLP Assembly member, Mr Sean Farren, has stressed that Mr Hume has no votes to spare and should be supported to the fullest so he can out-poll Dr Paisley.
The deputy leader of the Ulster Unionists, Mr John Taylor, has called on unionist voters to back all four of the unionist candidates in the eight-man race - no matter what their stand is on the Belfast Agreement.
He voiced opposition to the party candidate, Mr Jim Nicholson, some weeks ago after revelations of the incumbent MEP's extra-marital affair with a council worker. In a recent interview Mr Taylor shied away from stating if he would give Mr Nicholson his number one preference, saying, "It's a secret ballot."
"In a PR election it is essential that all unionists vote for all four unionist candidates. In that way we maximise the unionist vote and ensure that Sinn Fein do not gain a seat in Europe," added Mr Taylor, who was not available for comment last night.
Meanwhile, the election candidates continued their engagements around the North. Mr Hume gave a keynote address on domestic violence to the SDLP women's conference in Belfast. He stressed that one in four women suffer some form of violence in the home, "a figure which is not only unacceptable but also shocking".
Dr Paisley highlighted the difficulties being faced by petrol retailers in the North due to the strength of sterling.
The issue was also raised by Mr McLaughlin, who called for the harmonisation of tax and duties on all fuel and heating oils across the Border, "as a precursor to eventual economic integration".
Mr Robert McCartney, leader of the anti-agreement UK Unionist Party, yesterday toured West Tyrone.
He said the re-imposition of the beef ban by the North's Department of Agriculture represented the "most serious blow" to farmers since the original ban was imposed. Today Mr McCartney launches his manifesto and is scheduled to meet Mr Will Taylor of the Ulster Farmers' Union.
The Alliance Party leader, Mr Sean Neeson, also launches his election manifesto today. On the campaign trail yesterday in Cookstown, Co Tyrone and Magherafelt, Co Derry, he said new CAP reforms in Europe were detrimental to most farmers in Northern Ireland.