It was billed as the great reconciliation, the two great rivals and foes of the Nationalist movement sharing a platform for the first time for more than 20 years.

While the UK party leaders deserted the Palace of Westminister to travel to three different parts of Scotland, Alex Salmond and Jim Sillars were united at the Margomobile, the battle bus named in honour of the Nationalist icon.

And the late Margo MacDonald would have loved it.

Parked at a play park on the site of a former barracks square, now surrounded by old council houses off the Portobello Road in Edinburgh, the crowd included SNP and Green MSPs, Scottish Socialists, the Yes Scotland leadership, and a sprinkling of celebrities from screen and sporting arena.

Above all there was an enthusiastic crowd of local punters sporting badges in every colour declaring "Yes", "Aye" and "How No?" -- many bearing Margo's photo.

Her husband is touring the country in the vehicle named in her honour, a kind of ice cream van selling the delights of independence instead of cones, adorned with the slogan: "A message from Margo - Vote Yes.

Today the media were out in force to see it joined by First Minister Alex Salmond and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon. The Jim and Alex Roadshow turned into something of a mutual admiration society.

Jim rejects the claim they have been at daggers drawn as "quite wrong", insisting: "It's been a long road and we're now coasting to victory, and a great deal of the credit for that goes to Alex.

"He has played a blinder since the second debate and his devastating victory over Darling meant that afterwards we could feel a great surge of Yes support across Scotland. We should acknowledge what Alex has done. He has tanked George Osborne."

For his part, the First Minister said: "Jim is doing a fantastic job touring Scotland in his Margomobile. What the other side is offering is too little, too late and looks like a last-minute piece of desperation."

Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie, grinning as the atmosphere built in the sunshine, said: "There is such a lot of positivity. I think Scotland has already won whatever the vote next week. Obviously I hope and believe it will be a Yes vote, but in recent weeks ordinary people have become reconnected with politics and it's a sight to behold."