Lib Dems battle to persuade voters to turn out in today's crunch Eastleigh by-election amid fears sex scandal could decide result Polls open in Hampshire town to elect successor to disgraced Cabinet minister Chris Huhne Contest billed as three-horse race between Lib Dems, Tories and UKIP Lib Dems thought win was 'in the bag' until allegations emerged against ex-chief executive Lord Rennard Tories fear they could be forced into third place by a surging UKIP Panicked Liberal Democrats launched a drive to persuade their supporters to turn out in today's crunch Eastleigh by-election amid fears voters will desert them in protest at the Lord Rennard scandal. Voters go to the polls in the Hampshire seat today to choose a successor to disgraced Cabinet minister Chris Huhne, who quit after being warned he faces jail for pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice. The Lib Dems are battling to see off challenges from the Conservatives and the UK Independence Party, who claim they could be on course for a historic first Commons win. The Lib Dems are defending a 3,684 majority in the Eastleigh seat, with 14 candidates standing in today's by-election Voters in Eastleigh have been bombarded by all the main parties, desperate to secure their backing in today's crunch by-election Polling stations opened at 7am and voters can cast their ballot until 10pm. There are 14 candidates standing in the seat, where the Lib Dems are defending a 3,864 majority. Lib Dem strategists say a week ago they believed victory was "in the bag" but have been thrown off course by claims that the Lib Dem leadership turned a blind eye to allegations of sexual misconduct by former chief executive Lord Rennard. "It is having an effect," said a senior party source. The big danger is our people just stay at home, and Tory and UKIP voters turn out. Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg yesterday told activists in Eastleigh that the party was 'on the cusp of a great victory' Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg made a brief visit to Eastleigh yesterday, where he boasted that his party's candidate Mike Thornton was "on the cusp of a great victory." He told activists: "We can and we will win." Defeat for Mr Clegg would intensify pressure on his leadership, ahead of the party's spring conference in Brighton next week where activists are expected to make their voices heard. UKIP has grown increasingly confident that it could beat the Tories, dealing a devastating blow to Mr Cameron who last month used a long-awaited speech to promise an in-out referendum on Britain's EU membership. The speech was in part designed to stem the loss of support to Eurosceptic UKIP. Dog eat dog: Otto the dog has joined owner, climate change minister Greg Barker, on the campaign trail for Tory candidate Maria Hutchings Some Tories fear that despite a major campaign operation in the Hampshire town they could be pushed into third place by UKIP UKIP leader Nigel Farage claimed his party was "coming up on the rails" and could overtake both the Liberal Democrats and the Tories in Eastleigh. He claimed UKIP supporters would vote for his party's candidate Diane James "in blood" to express their anger at the bigger parties. The by-election has been billed as a must-win for David Cameron, who is in Latvia for the Northern Future Forum meeting of prime ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries and Britain in Riga