two leadership contenders says he has been deluged by telephone calls from people wanting to influence his vote.

But the Hon. Harry Soares said backers of Tourism Minister the Hon. C.V. (Jim) Woolridge are working harder than those who want Finance Minister the Hon.

David Saul to win the leadership contest.

Then again, backers of Mr. Woolridge have the greater task. As many as 13 of 21 Government MPs reportedly signed a letter in support of Dr. Saul's candidacy. Only 11 votes are needed to give him majority support.

Six MPs -- the Hon. Ann Cartwright DeCouto, the Hon. Clarence Terceira, Mr.

John Barritt, Dr. David Dyer, Mr. Trevor Moniz, and Mr. Rick Spurling -- are in the Woolridge camp, which is trying a "grassroots'' approach to turn the tide.

Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan resigned as UBP leader in the wake of the `no' vote in Wednesday's Independence referendum. He is to resign as Premier once a successor is chosen on Friday.

Midnight tonight is the deadline for leadership contenders to file nomination papers signed by five MPs. As of yesterday, only Dr. Saul's papers had been filed. Mr. Woolridge has scheduled a 2.30 p.m. news conference today to formally announce his candidacy.

"I've had 29 calls,'' Mr. Soares said. "Two in favour of one candidate and 27 in favour of the other. David's got the two and Jim's got the 27.

Not all the calls were from constituents, but most appeared to be "spontaneous'' calls from members of the general public, he said.

"Basically, the theme is that it would be business as usual if David is appointed,'' he said. "The same people would be back in Cabinet.

"I explained that the nomination deadline is midnight, and we don't know whether there will be one, two, or three candidates. Until I know who the candidates are going to be, it's very hard for me to carve in stone what I will do.'' Mr. Soares said he was "looking forward with anticipation'' to Thursday morning, when the candidates are to deliver short speeches at a caucus meeting and MPs can question them. "That will assist me in making a decision,'' he said.

While unlikely, the possibility still existed last night that a third candidate could emerge. Any new candidate would need signatures from MPs assumed to be in the camp of either Dr. Saul or Mr. Woolridge. The MPs who sign either Dr. Saul's or Mr. Woolridge's nomination forms would be precluded from signing forms for a third candidate. But those who signed the letter in support of Dr. Saul or had merely publicly expressed support for either candidate would not.

Mr. Tim Smith MP said yesterday he was among those who signed the letter in support of Dr. Saul, but his support was "tacit and conditional.'' "I'm keeping a very open mind,'' Mr. Smith said. "I'll have to hear what he has to say on Thursday.'' Mr. Smith said he was conditionally supporting Dr. Saul because "I believe the party needs a leader who can provide a vision and goals for the United Bermuda Party together with several other qualities.'' Up until this week, "it's believed that Dr. Saul possessed some of those qualities'', he said.

Asked if he has been lobbied about Friday's vote, Mr. Smith said: "I've had several phone calls.'' In other developments: Speaker of the House the Hon. Ernest DeCouto will not cast a vote in Friday's leadership contest, he said yesterday.

"I don't want to be involved,'' Mr. DeCouto said. "The Speaker has declared himself impartial.'' It is believed the Speaker could vote in the leadership contest, but only if he quit the Speaker's chair.

All four Government Senators will be expected to vacate their seats once Sir John resigns.

The UBP Constitution says: "In the interest of the party, it shall be expected that in the event of a change of Parliamentary leader, members of the Cabinet, members of the Senate, Parliamentary Secretaries, and the Parliamentary Whip shall cease to hold office.'' It is open to interpretation whether the Senators are expected to immediately resign.

"What is clear is that no-one should have any expectation of continuing in his current position,'' said the Hon. Gerald Simons, Government Leader in the Senate.

Former United Bermuda MP Mr. Harry Viera has rejoined the UBP after he resigned some years ago.

Mr. Viera, who became a member again three weeks ago, said he wanted to "help the party out.'' He said one of the main reasons he rejoined the party was to vote in UBP primaries.