Like during Cup Match, when the competitive spirit is at fever pitch, every opportunity to score an advantage draws a dramatic and heightened response. Just the sound of a nick of the ball will draw a loud appeal — “How’s he” yelled by the players and even the crowd at times.

The Rick Olson blooper was such a nick, reminiscent of the infamous picture of Delaey Robinson, the former St George’s MP, with his dreadlocks pictured and a question, when he was running for the seat, of whether Bermuda wants this as a leader?

Some will argue, that picture of Delaey helped put a seal on the tide that was already turning against the UBP back in 1998. In politics a little blip that should be over in a day, can endure as it seems, for an eternity. Trying to be politically correct is honed to an art form by politicians, but not so with the loyal fans, who too often betray the camp with their zeal and crudeness.

To be fair, this happens on both sides, it just depends on the precariousness of the balance. I can recall once deciding to give up campaigning in a primary leading to a by-election for what was then a very safe Devonshire UBP seat.

The comment made by a senior couple, believing they were making a sincere compliment, saying to me, they could tell I was an intelligent person for supporting their party because, “I know my people can’t govern”. Their comment perhaps unbeknown to them, was so insulting, I decided I could not fight to represent people who thought like that, so I literally stopped that very day.

It becomes completely disheartening when those who genuinely want to fight for a political party must do so, often knowing that a considerable portion of their support base pledge their support for unhealthy reasons. It doesn’t matter which party, some politicians seem to relish in that kind of support, but for anyone with any degree of intellectual honesty or half-moral conscience, they can only hold their nose in hope of making a positive difference.

The challenge during the run-up to the coming general election will be for both parties to stick to their core message and give the electorate a rational basis to give their support.

We have seen the horrible spin-off effects of the American election and the lasting mistrust and deep divisions flowing from those negative campaign messages.

We know we have ills on both sides of the fence and to exploit them to gain advantage may be too enticing to avoid for campaign strategists solely bent on winning at all costs.

However, history will show only those who spend more time and effort considering the issues facing the country in preparation to govern can show up after the election is over, with gas in their tank to begin leading thereafter.