Cabinet Office in the first vote on her leadership since taking over the Country.

And political insiders said Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson stood the best chance of winning support from MPs and PLP branches -- which have a major say in picking the leader.

One source predicted an overwhelming majority of Ms Smith's own MPs would vote against her in a challenge for the Premiership.

The source said the Premier's autocratic style had contributed to disenchantment with her leadership.

And what is seen as a series of public relations mistakes over oversized Government cars and a bid to drum up international business cash for a new $5 million Tourism headquarters have also dented her standing.

Ms Smith has also come under fire for failing to deliver adequate reports on trips abroad -- giving ammunition to the Opposition -- and for her media-shy leadership style.

The news came after the Premier herself admitted in a TV interview she was likely to face a challenge in November -- party conference time and a party election year.

Mr. Hodgson last night declined to comment on whether he would make a move for the leadership.

One source speculated yesterday that Ms Smith might have moved to smoke out potential opposition well in advance of the winter poll. Ms Smith went unchallenged at the last party elections -- held every two years under the PLP constitution.

But that was on the verge of a General Election, with party unity seen as a major key to victory.

A party insider pointed to serious insiders relegated to relatively minor Ministerial portfolios as likely contenders -- or prime backers of a single strong candidate.

These would include Transport Minister Ewart Brown, Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb, Development and Opportunity Minister Terry Lister and Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott, as well as Mr. Hodgson.

But it is unlikely that Ms Webb or Dr. Brown would run for leader -- although Dr. Brown did challenge for the deputy leadership of the party in November, 1996.

And firebrand Mr. Scott -- defeated by Ms Smith in the leadership vote which followed the death of former PLP leader Frederick Wade and at the 1996 annual conference shortly afterward -- would be unlikely to command huge support from a more centrist PLP.

The insider added that Mr. Lister is widely seen within the party as having blown the chances of getting controversial Commission for Unity and Racial Equality rules on race reporting in the workplace passed first time around -- which may count against him. He pulled out of a leadership challenge against Mr. Wade in 1994.

However Mr. Hodgson -- a former Magistrate, Bermuda's first black Rhodes Scholar and in the House of Assembly the second time around -- is thought to have rarely put a foot wrong and fought his corner in the media effectively.

Ms Smith won the leadership in 1996, with more than 60 percent of the votes cast, while Mr. Scott took less than 40 percent.

Deputy leader Eugene Cox beat off Dr. Brown, taking more than 70 percent of the vote -- double Dr. Brown's share.

The PLP's constitution allows for delegates and Parliamentarians -- MPs and Senators -- to vote for the leader.

When Ms Smith was elected in 1996, the voter breakdown was not made public -- but it is understood the she was carried to power by delegates' votes rather than her Parliamentary colleagues.

The Bermuda Constitution calls for the Governor of the day to ask the MP with the support of the majority of the House of Assembly to form the Government -- in practice, whomever wins in November will be able to command the support of their party.

PREMIER VIP POLITICS PTL HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY HOA