TWO weeks out from polling day and it's finally starting to look like a real election.
The circumstances that precipitated the March 2 poll, and the fact that it comes so soon after last May's, had given proceedings an air of phoniness to date - but two manifesto launches and a leaders' debate on TV tonight signal that things are slowly gathering momentum.
The plaudits so far this week go to the DUP, which really should've been fielding questions about RHI and its leader's admission of culpability in fostering an image of anti-nationalism and anti-republicanism, but instead managed to seize the initiative with the resurrection of a call for the scrapping of the petition of concern.
Arlene Foster's oversight of the botched Renewable Heat Incentive scheme may be to the fore in many voters' minds but it is has only played a supporting role in the campaign to date.
Perhaps tonight's UTV debate will provide an opportunity for other leaders to put the former first minister on the spot again.
The Ulster Unionists had been optimistic about an electoral resurgence but have found themselves managing the backlash from Mike Nesbitt's remarks about casting his second preference vote for the SDLP.
While his sentiment was genuine, laudable even, the former news anchorman succeeded in shifting the focus away from his party's manifesto pledges and on to those within the UUP's ranks who don't share their leader's preferences.
If reality on March 3 doesn't match the target inside his envelope, Mr Nesbitt will surely trace the source of his downfall to last Sunday's comments.
Colum Eastwood must be quietly thankful he didn't make a similar pledge, though arguably he could do with something that will spring his party's campaign into life.
In the intra-nationalism battle neither Sinn Féin or the SDLP has necessarily excelled, underlining the notion that much of this election is about a struggle within unionism.
Sinn Féin's manifesto was launched yesterday and contained no surprises, just a major change of emphasis from last May when it echoed many of the DUP's election pledges.
Equality and respect are the buzzwords this time around but no matter how many times they attack their former partners in government, it's hard to forget the bonhomie that characterised the DUP-Sinn Féin relationship for much of last year.
Meanwhile, has anybody seen Alliance?
