It is now 100 days to the next general election which could be the most unpredictable in modern times.
The May 7 ballot could be a pivotal moment for the North East which has perhaps suffered the most of any region due to the Coalition Government’s austerity programme.
Jonathan Walker of the North East Chamber of Commerce said: “One of the reasons it is so important is that austerity has had a huge impact on the North East.
“Certainly it will continue at some level from whoever wins, but the way it is implemented will be different.
“The public sector cuts have had a disproportionate affect on the North East.”
While experts predict an outright Tory victory would be the worst result for the region, none can actually see that happening.
Political expert Dr Martin Farr of Newcastle University said: “It’s a cliché to say it’s the most important election for a generation but it really is.
“And it’s certainly one of the most interesting as the result is so unpredictable - even more than 1970 and 1992.”
The uncertainty is the result of a number of factors starting with Labour and the Tories failing to create clear daylight between themselves in the polls.
Then there is the collapse of Lib Dem support, the rise of UKIP, the Scottish National Party and latterly the Greens.
This has lead to all sorts of permutation of Coalitions, even the most unlikely one of Labour-Tory pact with a ‘national unity’ tag.
The confusion is best highlighted by the ongoing talks on the TV debate.
Before the 2010 election, it was a pretty straight forward line up of what were seen as the three major parties - Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem.
This time round its looks like seven parties will get a chance in one or all the debates, which will mean adding UKIP, the Green party, Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National party to the 2010 list. Only yesterday it was revealed Prime Minister David Cameron had questioned why Northern Ireland parties were missing out.
Dr Farr dismissed it as a “Eurovision song contest” type debate now.
But he added: “I still contend that if there hadn’t been a TV debate in 2010, we’d have had a majority Tory government.”
Meanwhile Mr Walker said it hasn’t been all bad news for the region over the last five years.
“In terms of business priorities we have seen significant moves on transport and infrastructure from the current government,” he said.
“But from these priorities we want to see commitment to follow through on a lot of these promises - rail infrastructure, new roads - the dualling of A1, the pinch points on the A19.”
However there are concerns that as each party attempts to butter up Scots with promises of more devolution, they might do it at the expense of this region.
The Barnett formula which is used by the Treasury to allocate public expenditure across the UK both favours Scotland and, according to Mr Walker, “disproportionately affects the North East”.
All parties talking about re-balancing the economy but the question is how they will go about it.
The Tories say Labour will revert to type and tax and overspend, Labour accuses the Conservatives of planning to take public spending as a proportion of GDP back to levels last seen in the 1930s
Beth Farhat of the Northern TUC regional secretary said: “Are we really re-balancing in the economy if unemployment is falling twice as fast in London and the South East than in the North East? Of the jobs that are being created how many are on the pay that people can live off with some certainty and security from one month to the other?
“Are our public services safe, protected and adequately resourced? Are the bankers who caused the global financial crisis and the wealthiest 1% paying their share when many of the poorest are clearly suffering? Is there more than one way to build a recovery?”
A continuing issue for the North East is it is viewed as Labour’s heartland which means the Tories have little reason to try and curry favour here.
Mr Walker said: “It goes without saying the North East doesn’t have a huge number of marginal constituencies.
“Not long ago the North East dominated government and had a significant number of Cabinet ministers under Labour.
“We’re trying to get across we’re a very important part of the UK.”
Dr Farr added: “The (George Osborne’s) Northern powerhouse doesn’t seem to get to Newcastle.
“Cuts in the North East are seen as cutting the fat, not the meat. The North East is seen as an area of fat because of massive public sector spending and jobs which was a policy of the Labour government.”
As for who might win, Dr Farr said he forsees as a Tory-led Coalition, with David Cameron remaining as Prime Minister.
Mr Walker predicts a Coalition too, but not who it would involve and which would be the biggest party in it.
However the clock is well and truly ticking with all to play for.
