Constituency profile: Alex Salmond confident in Gordon
Not so Gordon, where the Liberal Democrats, from their candidate Christine Jardine, to activists on the ground, to even visiting high-profile party grandees, seemed utterly convinced they were going to cling on to a seat they had held since its creation in 1983.
They clearly reckoned without the power of a united cause for independence backers to rally round after the referendum, and the enduring popularity of Alex Salmond.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe North-East constituency, which straddles Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen city council areas, is traditional rural and high earning.
The bigger settlements include Ellon, Inverurie, and Huntly, as well as a number of smaller areas like Balmedia and Strichen.
Ruth Davidson is bullish about the Conservatives chances in Gordon, which is estimated to have voted around 60 per cent No during the independence referendum, despite coming fully 21,000 votes behind Mr Salmond in 2015.