英语文摘：Party leaders in final push for votes on eve of British general election

He said: "We will always protect the elderly, the frail, the vulnerable, the disadvantaged -- that's the kind of man I am, that 's the kind of prime minister I want to be."
Cameron's Conservatives look set to get the most votes and very probably the most seats in Thursday's election, under the first- past-the-post system. This traditional and simple system -- with 650 constituencies across the country and just one member of parliament returned for each one -- favors the two largest parties and especially favors the party that is already in power, regardless of which party that is.

For that reason, Cameron could win the election on votes by a wide margin but still find the ruling Labour party not far behind in numbers of seats in the next House of Commons. In that position Labour, as the ruling party, could have the first opportunity to form a government through negotiating a coalition.

Britain's Conservative Party leader David Cameron addresses his final campaign rally in Bristol, southwest England, May 5, 2010. The voting of the British general elections will start at 7 a.m. local time on Thursday.

Cameron feels that support is strong enough for him to at least form a minority government, one without a majority of members (MPs) in the House of Commons. However a late stiffening of his support could see his party win the election with just enough seats to form a majority government.

The ruling Labour party, under Prime Minister Gordon Brown, is trailing in the polls. Until only a few days ago it was even running behind to the traditional third party in British politics the Liberal Democrats.

Some support has returned to Brown as the election draws closer, but it is not enough to overhaul the Conservatives and a question mark still hangs over whether the party can secure second place. Labour has not placed third in a general election for nearly 90 years, and to do so now would be a disaster for it.

Brown is perceived to have had a poor campaign. He was beaten by the other two parties' leaders -- Conservative Cameron and Liberal Democrat Nick Clegg -- in an historic, first-ever series of live TV debates throughout the campaign.

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