A political campaign may seem to those on the outside as mere strolls around a constituency to kiss babies, hug old people and to promise wonders. However, a day on the campaign trail with a candidate shows that it is not an easy road.

Long hours, phones that never stop ringing, and the demands of the often skeptical citizens the political hopeful is wooing, make for a very long and tiring day. Last Thursday, The Gleaner took a first-hand look at what a day on the campaign trail is like for the People's National Party (PNP) candidate for South St. Catherine, Fitz Jackson - from daybreak to nightfall.

* 5:00 a.m.: Jackson and family (wife Joan and sons, 10 year old Akeem and 7 year old Akeba) are already up and preparing to meet the day in their Hellshire Heights home. Jackson and his wife both agree on one major thing about his being on the campaign trail - a typical day begins and ends with the telephone. While his sons get ready for school, while breakfast is prepared, while he gets dressed, Jackson is always on the phone.

"Usually it's much worse than this... In the evening, it's the same thing. It's constantly ringing off the hook, and when he can't come, they expect me to inform them of what they want to know!" says Joan, a dentist who works in Portmore.

* 6:10 a.m.: Jackson has breakfast and Joan explains how the campaign has affected family life. The main changes are his absences from home, the constant rush, and "a lack of privacy, not so much from people coming, but from the phone," Joan states. Married to Jackson since 1987, she says his entry into representative politics was no surprise as he has always been community oriented. She sees him continuing in politics for a long time: "It would be difficult to say when he should stop... It would be like asking 'When are you going to stop working?'"

* 6:20 a.m.: The first constituents arrive and sit waiting for Jackson. He is able to drive out, only after being delayed by the visitors for ten minutes. One woman says she needs work. He advises her to try a parish councillor.

"No, Mr Jackson. Me and him caan 'gree. Mi no like de man!"

"Joan, she looking work. We have anything here can give her?" Jackson asks his wife after turning this information over in his mind.

"Me naw do no domestic work yu know, Mr. Jackson!" the woman declares quickly.

* 6:45 a.m.: Crawling in Causeway traffic into Kingston, Jackson explains how this campaign is different from that in 1994, when he won a by election contested only by an independent candidate, after then MP Hugh Small had resigned.

"It is more drilling, more tense. In the by election, we had no real competition... The demands are more overwhelming, as it is just not a matter of winning my seat, but also getting a PNP government back in power."

As he and his sons look over the newspaper, Jackson says he hasn't time to follow TV news. Seven year old Akeba interrupts to say that it is because he does not want to watch the news.

"Them, they wouldn't mind if the campaign ends today!" Jackson smiles, gesturing to his sons.

* 7:40 a.m.: Jackson arrives at Wolmer's Prep in Kingston and sees both boys to classrooms before driving through traffic to his Melmac Avenue business.

* 8:00 a.m.: Jackson reaches his office, from which he operates a medical supply and auto-rental company, started in 1989. He says being in politics "has not helped business," as he no longer has time for it.

* 8:10 a.m.: Phone calls begin. He simply ignores some. He leaves the office at 8:30 for a 9.00 a.m. business meeting, lasting over an hour, at Dehring, Bunting and Golding.

* 10:30 a.m.: He arrives at PNP Headquarters on Old Hope Road, where he picks up, among other things, an amplifier for the constituency car's public address system. He visits a garage to check on the vehicle, which is under repair, after leaving the PNP HQ.

* 11:00 a.m.: Jackson is back in Portmore and at his constituency office by 11:15. He takes numerous phone calls and talks with constituents at the office.

* 11:45am - 3:00pm: Jackson walks through some communities off Newlands Road, from his office down to Naggo Head. Accompanied by the office secretary and about seven party workers, he goes into homes, introduces himself, distributes flyers and brochures.

* 3:20 p.m.: Back at the office, he discusses plans for the rest of the day with workers and campaign manager, Pauline Brown. According to Ms. Brown, the campaign is very hectic, with the day starting "as early as 5.00 a.m. on the telephone. Then we hit the road. We have an itinerary for him. It's very tight, so we push him real hard. It's not easy, as he has a free spirit and finds it difficult to tell people he's in a rush! But he's handling it."

* 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Lunchtime at a nearby restaurant and the controversial Samuda ad is a hot topic of conversation. At 4:58, he goes to a meeting in Independence City with fellow candidate and co-ordinator for the PNP's campaign, Dr. Paul Robertson, to address election issues.

* 6:40 p.m.: Arrives in Southboro to talk with the youth who have requested a meeting. Upon arriving in the community, he is advised to meet with other citizens first. Led by two supporters from the area, he takes a walk to meet people who are basically PNP loyalists, but need reassurance by personally meeting him.

At one house, a supporter is extremely disgruntled because of a long-standing seweage problem in front of her home. At another, a woman rushes out to hug him: "Yes sir, a tell dem bring you come cause a mus' meet mi MP. A seven vote mi have (seven persons) in here an mi say we mus see you!"

* 7:10 p.m.: Meeting with a group of about 25 young men and women from Southboro. Their concerns: employment, the community centre, lighting for the football field, the need to see the MP more. He emphasises that his conscience is clear in serving the young people of the area as he has delivered what he promised - assistance with sports programmes and an open door at the constituency office. He urges the youth to unite, and agrees to look into the matter of lighting for the field after the elections.

There is also a pitch for the party as both Jackson and a PNP councillor encourage them to participate in the electoral process and support the PNP.

"This is something for something. You never hear about nothing for nothing... I will be able to deliver fully only if I am MP for the next term," Jackson says.

* 9:00 p.m.: The day has not ended. Jackson returns to the constituency office with more work ahead. A planned walking tour in Greater Portmore that night is postponed as he admits he is tired. The campaign manager says that although on an average the office now closes between 9 and 11 p.m., work often goes on until 1.00 a.m.

"As we get closer to the election date we could be here up to one in the morning and even later!" she predicts.