Ewart Brown fired the starting pistol on the PLP leadership race yesterday, removing the last traces of doubt about his leadership ambitions. But another vital question still remained unanswered ? would Paula Cox enter the contest?

She was keeping a low profile yesterday.

Attempts to contact the Finance Minister by both email and phone to ask her whether she would be throwing her hat in the ring were unsuccessful.

Political sources we contacted last night were unsure whether she would run, although some said if she did she had a great chance of becoming Bermuda's third female leader.

Insiders reckon she could emerge triumphant if, like Alex Scott in 2003, a compromise candidate is again needed by the anti-Brown faction in parts of the PLP.

"She would get Jennifer Smith's support and other people that hate Ewart," said one party insider, pointing to the fact that Dame Jennifer's supporters would reward Ms Cox for loyalty shown after the 2003 election.

The Finance Minister boasts an impressive track record, her popularity seemingly still high among voters after stints in key posts as Attorney General and at Home Affairs and Education, followed by her current role as controller of the Island's purse-strings.

"The public are clearly comfortable with her as a future leader," said a senior PLP member, although he admitted he had not heard her express any interest in standing.

"She's supporting Alex Scott," he added. "She does not see a change of leadership at this stage as something that serves the party."

Viewed as one of the most talented Cabinet Ministers, another PLP source said Ms Cox was "bright and fearless". Some say she is seen as politically bullet-proof, but he warned that this would change the minute she went for the top job.

Former Cabinet Minister Renee Webb said she was not sure if Ms Cox would run. The indications were that she would not ? although that could change given Dr. Brown's departure yesterday.

"I think she's a strong candidate," said Ms Webb, who stated that if it came to three-way tussle between Dr. Brown, Mr. Scott and Ms Cox, she would back the Finance Minister, who works as a lawyer for ACE.

"She's very capable. Her integrity is above reproach. She's much more of a silent warrior.

"Even though she's on the shy side, when she's in public she's very engaging and well spoken. She works very well with people and has a lot of plusses."

Ms Webb said Ms Cox's continued popularity, not seemingly dented by a recent hard-hitting Auditor General report on unaccounted public funds, was down to her "getting the job done".

"She has a lot of good people in her Ministry. Some civil servants are stronger than others. She has a good team."

On the downside, Ms Webb said there were a lot of "chauvinistic males" in the parliamentary party who do not want another female leader."Being a woman is definitely an issue," said Ms Webb. "That could stop her in her tracks."

But this potential stumbling block could give her an advantage when it came to PLP delegates casting their votes, as Ms Webb said the majority were women.

One MP said that a few people in the "anyone but Brown" camp were angry because Ms Cox has not announced she will stand. But he said it was not in the lawyer's nature to look for a political fight and scramble for delegates' votes. "She would prefer to be a compromise like Alex (Scott) was. She prefers a coronation rather than a revolution."

He said that one weak spot was a questionable temperament ? "she does not really engage in Parliamentary debate unless she's attacked" ? and said she was not the type of person to "smooze" with voters.

She has a degree in political science but political charisma may also play a part. "If she enters the room, you might not know she's there," said the MP. "If Ewart Brown enters a room, you know he's there."

He reckons that the bottom line could come down to how much Ms Cox, daughter of the PLP guiding light Eugene, wants the top job.

"I do not think she really, truly wants it," the MP said. " Not like Alex or Ewart. I don't think there's the same level of desire."

The question of whether that hunger for leadership is there could be answered very soon.