Culture Secretary Chris Smith was in Oxford to give the campaign of Labour candidate Gill Kirk a boost.
Mrs Kirk is standing for Labour in the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency.
She insisted Labour are still campaigning hard for a seat where the Liberal Democrats and Tories are thought to be out in front.
Chris Smith with Gill Kirk
She said: "It's rubbish to say that we are not out on the streets looking for votes. We are campaigning hard and I think people here now really want a Labour MP."
Chris Smith visited staff at the Oxford Playhouse to discuss a recent £300,000 boost to their funding until 2004.
**Picture: Andy Cooper
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