Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have earmarked ballots across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset as vital to establishing a platform for the 2015 General Election.
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg is scheduled to launch the national Lib Dem local election campaign in Cornwall on Monday. The Prime Minister, David Cameron, is expected to tour the region "in the coming weeks", and could be campaigning for the Conservative Party to retain its grip of power at county halls as early as next week.
The Tories swept to power in elections for Cornwall, Devon and Somerset council the last time the shire authorities were contested in 2009, ousting the Lib Dems in each authority.
Both parties think the peninsula is vital to their success in the General Election, and controlling the region's councils will form a powerbase to help fight the ground war in two years' time.
A quarter of the Tory target seats for 2015 are in the South West, while the Lib Dems believe winning all six Cornish constituencies – as in 2005 – is a distinct possibility.
But against a slump in the national polls for the coalition Government parties, Labour is positioning itself as the new opposition – despite its weak showing in the rural Westcountry – and the UK Independence Party (UKIP) will look to exploit its strength in the South West.
Liam Byrne, Labour's Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, will visit Exeter on Monday to launch the party's Devon campaign. When visiting Cornwall last month, deputy leader Harriet Harman said the party was looking to make "progress" in the region, and could scoop tactical Lib Dem voters.
UKIP leader Nigel Farage last week launched his party's national tour in Cornwall and moved on to the rest of the South West. The party is buoyed by the Eastleigh by-election, and is threatening to split the Tory vote. Another factor in Cornwall could be the rise of Cornish nationalists Mebyon Kernow, who are poised to pick up votes from disenchantment with the Government parties.
On May 2, almost 2,400 seats will be contested in 35 areas – mostly county councils where Tories and Liberal Democrats will go head-to-head. Nominations closed at lunchtime yesterday. Withdrawals can be made up until Wednesday.
Cornwall Council is run by a Tory-led coalition with Independents. Some 122 councillors will be chosen, and the election is the first "all-out" vote since the unitary authority was founded in 2009. The Conservatives have 46 seats to 37 Lib Dem councillors.
In Devon, where the authority is Conservative-controlled, all 62 seats are up for grabs. The Tories hold 41 seats to 14 by the Lib Dems.
Somerset County Council is held by the Conservatives, by 35 seats to 21 held by the Lib Dems, and 55 seats will be contested.
Alex Folkes, deputy leader of Cornwall Council's Lib Dem group, said: "Cornwall Liberal Democrats are looking forward to the elections on May 2.
"They will give the people of Cornwall the chance to pass their judgement on a discredited Tory-Independent administration, which tried to close libraries and axe bus routes and which sought to raise council tax year after year.
"The clear alternative is the Liberal Democrats who have successfully frozen council tax for the past two years and found the money to invest in road repairs and cheaper car parking, tackling antisocial behaviour and cleaning up Cornwall.
"Everyone knows that this election is a choice between the stale Tory-led administration – which couldn't even collect your rubbish – and the Liberal Democrats, who understand the needs of local people."
Jude Robinson, Labour's sole councillor on Cornwall Council, said: "Labour will be campaigning right across Cornwall and standing more candidates than ever before.
"The Conservatives have several factions and the Lib Dems are facing both ways on their coalition with the Tories. Labour is the only real opposition to the Tories and we are putting forward clear and united policies. We are working hard on the doorstep and hope to increase our representation at Cornwall Council to work for the best services for all Cornish residents."
Senior Tories are portraying the elections nationally as a test of Labour leader Ed Miliband. According to a Tory analysis, on a straight poll swing Labour would expect to win 1,500 seats. A senior source said: "They won't get that but anything other than 1,000 Labour gains will raise big questions for Miliband.
"He said they are the 'One Nation' party – in which case they have to be able to operate in the south and the south east. Two years from now he is expecting to be walking into Downing Street and he cannot do that without winning in the south."
