JUST 28 days from now we will have a new government, or perhaps the same government, or maybe a slightly different government, or possibly no government at all.

That is, quite frankly, pretty much all we know for certain after the first fortnight of the General Election campaign.

Some voters are already complaining that the campaign is too long – and there are another four full weeks to enjoy or endure until polling day.

The problem for many, I think, is not so much the length of the campaign – six weeks is pretty standard for most general elections in this country –- but the wall-to-wall coverage of it by the national media, and in particular the broadcasters.

Let’s not forget we won’t even have a full list of parliamentary candidates until nominations close at 4pm today.

Yet this election has been ramped up to unprecedented levels of coverage by the 24-hour news stations and online outlets.

No photo opportunity is missed, no interview chance spurned by the party leaders.

So, on a daily basis, we get this kind of broadcasting diet shoved down our throats:

Party launches policy about something. Party spokesperson on that particular something gets a light grilling by some political journalist. Representative of rival party is wheeled out within minutes to rubbish the opposition’s policy, whether they know anything about it or not. Someone from one of the minor parties also gets to say something about it. Some people on the street have their say, often about a policy they have been told about three seconds previously. Political expert explains to us plebs what the policy really means.

And so on and so forth, ad nauseum.

Now I don’t pretend for a second that the Argus isn’t part of this media circus, though I hope we are trying to give our readers more than just election news.

But this is the pantomime. It’s not the real campaign.

On national television, it’s all pretty formulaic stuff and I’m not convinced it’s what the electorate wants to see.

What I want to see is more would-be MPs taking part in hustings and other similar live debates – and I want to see more candidates out on the knocker, talking to real people about the real issues that affect them.

I want to see fewer stage-managed photo opportunities and interviews. I want to see our politicians break free of the media bubble and come and talk to people who honestly have no idea for whom or for what to vote.

I want to see more candidates unafraid of saying the wrong thing and brave enough to put their heart and soul into winning votes.

We are a third of the way through the General Election campaign. You cannot move for politicians in the media.

But how many have knocked on your door, or delivered a leaflet, or called you to ask for your vote?

I’d be interested to hear from our readers, but my guess is the vast majority of people have yet to see a candidate on their street.

I’ve yet to see one.

Politics doesn’t have to be boring, particularly during a General Election campaign.

But this campaign is being made to feel like a trial for voters by a combination of rolling news services desperate for information and politicians desperate not to make a mistake.

There are still 28 days to go.

Let’s see if anyone is going to be brave enough to make this a memorable election campaign.