Government suffered a defeat of sorts in recent days when it lost by three votes, its bid to host the Arms Trade Treaty headquarters in T&T.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran who confirmed the numbers on Thursday in Mexico, was on his way back home after representing T&T at the event. It's likely to be the last event outgoing Minister Dookeran would represent Government at, due to his retirement from politics.
His colleague Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, another non-contestant, says she's been busy concluding Public Administration Ministry programmes. And Energy Minister Kevin Ramnarine is assisting campaigning in several seats.
They're three of almost 20 non-contesting incumbents in the ruling PP whose different campaign format has been a talking point, certainly by PNM leader Keith Rowley who remarked at his Point Fortin meeting that the PNM was the only party "campaigning."
While the PP's lack of nightly public meetings has allowed time to focus on constituency groundwork, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, campaigning in another format, remains on-message with daily appearances at business and other non-party forums.
PNM on a nightly roll with large numbers, has increasingly focused on detailing its plans for government and Cabinet arrangements for the smaller team its leader says his government would have.
Test for the main contenders on September 7 will be how traditional voting patterns mix with a handful of factors including leadership.
Outgoing Mayaro MP Winston Peters whose rejection prompted his resignation from the UNC, may not necessarily have had to say the PM needs a reality check. Latest example of this was PNMites' jeering when she went to open the Carenage Health Centre and at Tuesday's Orange Day anti-violence campaign day in downtown Port-of-Spain.
In 2010 Persad-Bissessar's forays downtown attracted adoring fans. Kamla 2015, at Tuesday's Orange day event lead a small group downtown, with silently-staring spectators and one woman in red at the corner of Frederick Street and Independence Square waving at her.
The PM waved back, but the woman chortled as she waved, "bah-bye Kamla, bah-bye," echoing PNM's latest anthem.
Peters, saying he's working–mum on what and with which party–says people will be seeing him: "I'm an entertainer..."
PNM was nearby in Moruga last night and the PP follows in Mayaro tomorrow where a spot assessment of Peters' departure might be obtained. The PP hasn't held meetings in Tobago, reinforced PNM turf since 2013, though six candidates are contesting in Tobago East.
It's one of two areas where this highest number of candidates–out of the total 132–is contesting; the other being Diego Martin West.
At Thursday's COP Lopinot meeting, which attracted yet another small COP gathering, speakers emphasised the need for members to bring out votes. Concerns are valid in the East-West corridor where PNM's support has increased and where the strongest support Jack Warner's ILP has, is for ILP's Lopinot candidate Nigel Reyes.
Less concern may be necessary for the ex-COP dissident foursome who provided visual support for PNM's recent San Juan meeting.
Despite sporting COP T-shirts, three resigned in 2014, one of them–Rudy Hanamji–confirmed. Kirt Sinnette said he's from a PNM family joining COP in 2006 and leaving in 2014, and Satu Ramcharan, PNM's Women's league PRO in the 1990s and a defeated St Augustine candidate, fell out with the Manning administration and left PNM.
Hanamji said the group contacted PNM two weeks ago and have requested a meeting for which they're still waiting.
Warner's US extradition matter is on hold until September 14–after the September 7 election–under arrangements by the Attorney General due to the upcoming poll. Whoever the Attorney General is then–usually the second appointee in a government–will have to deal with Warner's matter.
At this point, slightly more than a week away from poll, analysts like Dr Hamid Ghany see the race as "tight" though with the PP ahead, and spokesmen of both the PP and PNM each feel they can win with 20-plus seats. Next Saturday's final rallies by the PP and PNM–at Aranguez and Eddie Hart grounds, Trincity respectively–will give the final insight.