Conservative Merv Wiseman says he's meeting a lot of undecided voters on the campaign trail. (CBC)

The major parties fighting to represent St. John's South-Mount Pearl all admit a large number of undecided voters may determine who gets a job in Ottawa.

Retiring Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn has represented the riding — which includes much of downtown St. John's and nearby suburban neighbourhoods — since a 2000 byelection, although even some Conservatives admit they will be astounded if they can hold the seat in Tuesday's election.

With Premier Danny Williams's "anything but Conservative" campaign cutting deep into Tory efforts in the province, candidate Merv Wiseman is counting on gains from undecided voters to counter the ABC campaign.

"We're seeing that in the polls, we're seeing that at the doors," Wiseman, who is best known in the province for serving as the president of the provincial Federation of Agriculture and for representing fur breeders. "A lot of people trying to make up their mind."

Siobhan Coady says she is counting on her work over the last four years in the riding to carry her to victory. (CBC)

Indeed, all of the major parties say their polling in the riding has revealed a comparatively high count of voters who indicated they had not made up their minds.

Liberal candidate Siobhan Coady is in her third race for the seat, and is widely seen as the front-runner in the campaign. She told CBC News she is counting on her past campaign experience to woo undecided voters.

"I'm continuing to work hard for this seat," she said. "So they certainly know me at the door, they certainly know what I've been doing over the past four years, and they like it."

Coady has picked up an overt boost through the ABC campaign, with Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale joining her with door-to-door campaigning.

Ryan Cleary says knocking on doors is the only way to persuade undecided voters. (CBC)

Ryan Cleary, a St. John's journalist who joined the New Democratic Party just before he won the party's nomination in the riding, said wearing out shoe leather is his key for persuading voters.

"It's knocking on doors — that's what wins you the votes," Cleary said.

"People have got to look you in the eye. You gotta tell people what you're about."

Also competing in St. John's South-Mount Pearl are Green candidate Ted Warren; Newfoundland and Labrador First Party candidate Greg Byrne; and Independent Terry Butler.

St. John's South-Mount Pearl has traditionally consisted of voters who have favoured Tories. When known as St. John's West, for instance, the riding was the stronghold of former cabinet minister John Crosbie between 1976 and 1993.