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A lot of discussion is taking place this week on the shape of our election coverage.

And I'm definitely starting to get that election buzz of excitement now (yes, I know I need to get out more).

It's hard to say how big a role local factors play in the way people vote, but when you start to look at constituencies and research the contests there, you do begin to see this as more than just a battle between the national parties and their leaders.

Over the last two weeks on the Politics Show, we've looked at the Corus factor in Redcar and the influence of rural issues in Berwick.

This week, my colleague Fergus Hewison is off to Penrith and the Border to see what factors may be playing locally there, and to assess what the local voters make of Conservative candidate Rory Stewart.

He's a man with a big profile and a colourful background but of course that can play both ways. Look out for that on the programme this Sunday.

I'm looking forward to getting out to more constituencies in the run-in to polling day too. Out on the stump is where you'll always get the best insight into what's happening.

The Politics Show will be going out on tour as well in the last few weeks of the campaign as we bring voters face-to-face with the politicians.

Of course, I may slip the odd question in but it's usually unpredictably exciting when the voters get a chance to put their questions directly to candidates.

I will also be chairing a Look North debate featuring politicians and an audience - a first for this campaign.

But there'll also be the cut and thrust of the daily political visits and the unexpected in what looks like an unpredictable and tightly-contested election.

Of course, though all of this gets put into perspective by the kind of news that broke yesterday.

The death of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar at the age of just 53 has been greeted with shock and grief amongst all that encountered him.

It's easy to forget that his was a remarkable story. Born in India, after moving to this country, he left school with just two O levels from his local secondary modern.

A remarkable journey then saw him carve out a successful career in industry and politics, to become one of the country's first Asian MPs.

He had a reputation as an incredibly dedicated constituency MP, who turned a fragile majority into a decent one, and I'm sure he will be missed by his colleagues and constituents as well as his family.

A ceremony to commemorate his life is being held in Guisborough this Friday.

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