By Joey Jones, Deputy Political Editor
In the Borders constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, the Liberal Democrats are hoping to negotiate the turbulent waters of post-referendum politics and hold off the dual challenges of the Conservatives and the SNP.
The seat was held by Michael Moore by more than 5,000 votes in 2010 but Lib Dem fortunes have dwindled since, and the Scottish National Party (SNP) resurgence leaves a whole new set of problems on the party's plate.
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The bulk of people in this region voted 'no' in the referendum, but as we have seen in other parts of Scotland that is not necessarily a barrier to electoral success for the Scottish nationalists.
In the battle of spin that is going on between the three parties, the Conservatives and SNP talk about a collapse in the Lib Dem vote; the Lib Dems are dismissive of the nationalists' claims in particular and while acknowledging a Tory threat maintain they can beat the Conservatives back.
I tested the claims by travelling to Coldstream, where the Tories told me they were strong (their candidate John Lamont lives in the town).
I found substantial but not overwhelming Tory support - a number of people were sceptical about all the parties, and there were also Lib DemsI I bumped into on the main street.
Galashiels is a town where the Lib Dems told me they expect to perform strongly.
Here there were indeed Michael Moore supporters in evidence, virtually no Tories and a decent smattering of Scottish nationalists.
My impression was of a constituency where the Lib Dems remain the party to beat.
Only if the SNP up their game significantly in the seat might the Tories convincingly be able to argue that people should rally behind their candidate to see off the nationalist threat.
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