Pamela Gordon is set to go head-to-head with Jennifer Smith in two TV debates.

And the Premier promised "a good, clean election fight'' last night.

Opposition Leader Ms Smith accepted Ms. Gordon's challenge for a national TV debate on Government's record.

She also laid down her own gauntlet, daring the Premier to face her in a second TV duel on Bermuda's future.

Ms. Smith also accused the Premier of being an "Alice in Wonderland'', announcing a Government plan to turn crackhouses into homes but admitting the buildings were used for "nefarious'' or "illicit'' purposes.

She said the proposals showed the Premier had admitted "that she and her Government failed to take the action necessary in the face of unlawful and extremely wicked `goings on' ''.

Ms. Gordon told The Royal Gazette last night that both debates were "inextricably linked'', saying the future could not be debated without a discussion on the past and present.

But she said: "If the Opposition want two bites of the cherry, that's fine.

"We have a good record, a solid record and I don't have a problem debating it. We also don't have a problem dealing with the issues which affect Bermuda.'' Ms Gordon said she was also committed to avoiding a dirty election build-up despite intense campaigning on both sides.

"In the past couple of years, there's always been this constant barrage of criticism about how badly Bermuda is doing and how the Bermuda population is so terribly put out by the policies of the United Bermuda Party Government,'' she said.

"Yet we are talking about a Country that has got overemployment and people running to come and work here. We have got 35,000 jobs here.

"We are standing by our own record and challenging the Opposition to say where the money is coming from for their own ideas.

"I will not allow that ever to sink to a dirty level, with people besmirching each other's characters.

"May the best man win, because we are all dealing with the concerns of the country. Bermuda is worth fighting over.

"We promise a good, clean fight. We don't need to go on the defensive about our record. But we will not sit by helplessly if we are attacked.'' She said Ms Smith's letter accepting her TV debate challenge spoke of a "change'' in UBP policy, to allow TV debates.

Ms Smith also wrote that she would soon forward the names of a PLP delegation to meet with UBP counterparts to determine the venue, date, time and format of the TV confrontations.

The Premier, who promised a quick reply to the Opposition Leader, added: "There is no change in UBP policy. John Swan had TV debates with Freddie Wade.

"But again, Jennifer Smith has left it open-ended and said she's going to be forwarding me the names of the PLP delegation shortly, to work out the details.'' Ms Smith issued her challenge in a prepared statement at the PLP's Alaska House headquarters on Court Street.

She said her written acceptance to take part in a TV debate was delivered to the Premier's office yesterday.

The PLP leader added: "I did not want any time to elapse, because I did not want her to change her mind.

"My opponent is talking about change quite a lot these days, as everyone knows. This is, in itself, yet another of the outgoing Premier's serial contradictions.

"While perpetually extolling the sublime virtues and unbelievable achievements of the UBP, she is, in the same breath, continually confessing and conceding the need for change in Bermuda.'' Calling for a second TV debate, Ms. Smith added: "Only in a General Election does the public get a major opportunity to hear all sides of an issue, with each party firmly committed to the policy planks on which it stands.

"I therefore now challenge the Honourable Premier to a second debate, a debate on the future of our Country.

"And I look forward to a written response from the Premier that will be as prompt and as positive as mine was yesterday, after her challenge to me for one debate, on the record of the UBP.'' POLITICS PTL