RAPPING (many) doors was the order of the day for Alliance candidate Eddie Roofe, as he hit the canvas trail in Enniskillen this week.

The canvas on Wednesday morning, which was shadowed by the Impartial Reporter, saw around 40 doors knocked, but as it was mid-morning, many people weren't at home.

"Canvassing at this time of day can be hit and miss," said Eddie, who was elected as an Alliance councillor last year and is vying for a seat as an MP in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. 

"The election isn't far away, so we are trying to cover as much ground as we can."

Those who did answer had much to say about the state of local healthcare, road, and their true thoughts on politicians. 

"The main issue is trying to get the country up and running again!" said one woman on the door, who did not wish to be named. 

"Specifically, the NHS needs looked at. I had to go to Dublin for an operation. I was on a waiting list for seven years to get an operation. I had to go private."

Around six more doors were rapped before another person answered.

They couldn't speak because they were looking after the kids. Other knocks got answers from dogs, but not people. 

"I hate annoying the dogs," Mr. Roofe quipped. 

A few doors later, another resident answered and agreed that the health service was a priority for politicians. 

When asked by Mr. Roofe if the Alliance party would be her choice, the woman replied: "I am planning to vote, but for who, we haven't decided. We have voted Alliance in the past."

A number of doors down, a resident said that he wasn't willing to speak on his voting preference. 

"I am going to vote, but I don't want to say who I am voting for", he said, before closing the door. 

Mr. Roofe admits that earlier in his political career, canvassing wasn't something he enjoyed. 

However, he said that these days he is more at ease and added that people are "generally very friendly".

"There's no hostility," he said, while knocking on another door in vain.

"Social media is one thing, but face-to-face is another. There's plenty of negativity online, but when you speak to people in person, they are very pleasant. 

"People appreciate that you are taking the time to ask their opinions. If they have no time, they have no time. You move on to the next house."

Moving on to the next house, Mr. Roofe spoke with a man who wasn't registered to vote. 

Kevin Mohan said: "I had an issue with my card last time, but I got in touch with an MLA and I found out I wasn't registered.

"I will have to get re-registered, so I won't be voting this time around."

Mr. Moohan added that when it came to politics, he was largely indifferent. 

"There are no issues for us, really. We are living here, we like it. I am not big into politics to be honest."

Meanwhile, another resident said that they would be voting, but "only if they had the time". 

A few doors down, resident, Shannon Durren, said she plans to go to the ballot box next week. 

"I will be voting next week anyway," she said.  "But when we have got someone in parliament, nothing will change anyway." 

In response to this assertion, Mr. Roofe said that Fermanagh and South Tyrone had suffered from a lack of representation over the last 20 years due to Sinn Féin's abstentionism. He said that Alliance would change that. 

Mrs. Durren continued: "The roads are pretty bad, especially around Lisnaskea. The health service is also bad, and there's a chance the SWAH could be shut down completely."

In terms of SWAH, Mr. Roofe said that while it is unlikely that the local hospital will close, his party would "make sure there are no more services removed".

In an unexpected turn, Mrs. Durren then received a call via her audio doorbell from local man, Ross Burrell.

He was all too happy to give his view on the election. 

"I want to make an input," said the Fermanagh man who is currently working in Scotland. 

"The money over working in Fermanagh is far behind what you get in Dublin and down South. Do we not deserve the same up here?" he asked. 

Mr. Roofe said that while healthcare workers have pay parity with the UK, wages in the private sector can vary. 

Mr. Burrell interjected: "On a construction site in Fermanagh they are offering around £10 an hour, but if you go to Dublin you could easily get £20 an hour."

As the canvas drew to a close, Mr. Roofe remarked on the positivity of people on the doors. "It's been fairly positive so far. Even if people disagree with you, they are always very pleasant."

For the aspiring Alliance MP, the canvas trail continues.