Constituency profile: Glasgow North West

Its reputation as a national stronghold was re-enforced with successive and high profile leaders and Lord Provosts of Glasgow City Council hailing from the constituency, while a traditional working-class backbone in places like Knightswood delivered massive Labour majorities.

Fast-forward to 2011 and things change. The area swung to the SNP during its 2011 Holyrood landslide but with the tightest of margins, just seven votes.

During the Referendum it voted Yes, albeit with less of a majority than other Glasgow areas.

Meanwhile, boundary changes, bringing in west end neighbourhoods like Scotstoun, Broomhill and parts of Partick, have altered demographic dynamics in a constituency where the foodbanks and high-rises of Drumchapel are just two miles from the sandstone villas and school catchment concerns of Jordanhill.

If the SNP win here, political change is indeed deep-rooted.

Currently outpolling three-times MP John Robertson is the SNP's Carol Monaghan. A mother-of-three and local schoolteacher, her campaign is pitched by her team as a vote for New Politics, and Monaghan a fresh candidate with life experience, untainted by the 'Westminster Establishment'.

It may have been front page news for the Washington Post but the contest is also amongst the most localised in Scotland. Monaghan's campaign headquarters, a former bridal shop, is in the neighbourhood she grew up and a mile from her family home. Amongst those canvassed on an unseasonally cold spring afternoon are former pupils. Local incinerator plans and hospital transportation are as likely to come up on the doorsteps as austerity or Trident.

"It's all about being visible", says the 42-year-old who had spent the morning visiting undecideds. "The interesting thing is the spread of people saying they're voting SNP. You're traditional support, Labour voters who went Yes and No voters looking for positivity in their Westminster representation. You can feel the shift.

"People also want to see real people representing them. Not careerists focusing on self-betterment."

If elected it would be a massive personal upheaval, Monaghan admits. Family roles would need reversed for starters.

How does she feel about the polls? "Well, I wouldn't want to be the other side at the moment. But in the end they count for nothing.

"John Robertson has been largely invisible in the constituency. That's been his story of the last 15 years. Even people who still support Labour, when you ask who the MP is few can tell you. That's a shocking indictment."

It may also be Monaghan's biggest hurdle. Party loyalty runs deep. Some older Whiteinch residents admit to an appetite for change but also a reluctance to switch sides.

The ageing demographic is also one of Robertson's big assets. Glasgow North West has the largest pensioner population of any UK constituency. But even here, Labour sources say this core constituency is no longer as reliable as once was.

Since 2010 many have also passed away. Meanwhile, young families have moved in, bringing with them the most likely SNP demographic, males aged 25 to 45.

This campaign, Robertson says, more miles have been pounded and conversations had. Unlike previous contests there just isn't the resources to farm out to other areas where the fight may have been tougher.

It's more like a by-election this time, he says. Everything is being thrown at it. Are the polls getting to him?

"Yes, sometimes they do. But we'll see on the day." He is blessed though with some of the highest profile and most able Labour councillors in the city within his network, their local efforts something visible Labour can point to.

He also dismisses as a caricature the image he represents an old school on the receiving end of a kicking by the 'New Politics'. "People forget it's the SNP in government, not Labour. I often find myself being asked to explain policies, like NHS issues, which have nothing to do with Labour but are the responsibility of the SNP."

He also has successes he can point to whilst in Government; reducing tariffs on pre-paid meters, non-charging ATMs and increasing the disability allowance for blind people.

But while Dewar still wins Labour local votes, what of the other local stalwarts of yesteryear? Members of former Lord Provost Alex Mosson's family are now SNP, ex-council leader Charlie Gordon was at least sympathetic to a Yes vote and his successor Steven Purcell, still a close friend of Robertson and campaigning for him, is now pro-Independence. How many ordinary Labour voters have also taken this journey?

"We know around 40 per cent of Labour voters here voted Yes but it's different this time. We'll see what happens on May 8. If I'm wrong I hope the next person looks after the area the way I have."