The remarks from America and Britain suggest that these two permanent members of the Security Council have already made up their minds that Iraq has failed to come clean.
The two junior partners in the government have yet to support the latest austerity measures and will make up their minds once they have studied the details.
Alliance politicians say UTV initially told them they wouldn't be included but changed their minds after hearing the BBC would have Mr Ford in their line up on Tuesday May 3rd, two days before polling day.
Undecided voters usually break for the challenger by two or three to one (because people likely to back the well-known incumbent have already made up their minds to do so).