boxes, a new poll claimed yesterday.

The independent survey showed, among all voters polled, that 38 percent backed the ruling United Bermuda Party, compared to 27 percent lined up behind the Opposition Progressive Labour Party.

A significant 27 percent of the total, however, either refused to reveal their voting intentions or were listed under "don't know/not decided''.

And the survey -- carried out in late June and early July by a Canadian pollster and an Island firm for the new quarterly Bermuda Omnibus Survey -- showed Ms Gordon ahead of rival Jennifer Smith "by a considerable margin.'' Among decided voters -- 245 of the random sample of 335 -- 52 percent backed the UBP, while just 36 percent went for the PLP.

Of those questioned on whom they preferred as Premier, Ms Gordon had the backing of nearly half the population -- 48 percent -- and almost twice the number who favoured Ms Smith, 26 percent.

A total of 15 percent were listed as "don't know/no answer'' while four percent favoured other choices as leaders and eight percent said neither.

And nearly two in three Bermudians, according to the statisticians, are either completely satisfied or mostly satisfied with the overall performance of the UBP Government.

Pollster Don Mills said: "The performance ratings for a government are among the most important determinants of being re-elected.

"Popularity of a party's leader is also a strong indicator of public support.

"At this point, both favour the re-election of the UBP.'' The Omnibus Survey results contrast with a poll carried out by local survey firm Research Innovations one week earlier than the Omnibus Survey.

That survey gave a 61.5 percent favourability rating to Ms Gordon, while Ms Smith received a 77 percent rating.

The survey also said that 37 percent of voters refused to respond on their voting intentions in the general election, but 36 percent said they would cast their vote of the PLP and just 22 percent said they would vote for the UBP.

Premier Pamela Gordon said last night of the Omnibus Survey: "I'm encouraged because the United Bermuda Party had worked very hard to try and prove its mandate and live up to its commitment.

"We have been very successful as a Government for economic well-being of the Country -- what we are now trying very hard to do is improve the social well-being of this Country.

"What we have to do is work to make that margin even greater so even more people believe the United Bermuda Party is the best choice for the future.'' Ms Smith said she had not seen the full results of the survey and could not comment until she had done so.

The random telephone poll was carried by Island-based Total Marketing and Communications and Canadian firm Corporate Research Associates Ltd. among 400 residents between June 27 and July 6.

The poll has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.

A statement by the Bermuda firm said: "Premier Pamela Gordon is, by a considerable margin, the most preferred of the two main party leaders to be Premier of Bermuda.'' Survey A total of ten percent of those surveyed were completely satisfied with Ms Gordon's Government, with 54 percent generally satisfied.

Those generally dissatisfied numbered 20 percent and those completely dissatisfied totalled eight percent.

A further eight percent were logged as "neither satisfied or dissatisfied/depends or "don't know/no answer.'' POLITICS PTL