like her.

And she said she would not try to take on Premier Pamela Gordon in a popularity contest -- but rely on the issues instead.

Ms Smith said: "I am running my own race -- if you are asking me if I'm going to try and be a Pamela Gordon, no, I'm not.

"It's been my position since day one that I have always appealed to people in terms of what I can do -- better representation, work harder. It's never been `like me'.'' Ms Smith was reacting to claims following two massive by-elections wins for the United Bermuda Party that a Pamela Gordon "feel-good factor'' was boosting Government after two years of damaging splits.

But she said: "I have always been about being the best person for the job.

It's never been about being whether somebody likes you. Judge on what matters.'' But she did not rule out being axed as leader if she fails to deliver a General Election victory.

She said: "I think that would be up to my party and I'm, of course, at their will. I serve at their will.'' But she insisted that the PLP could bring off their first-ever General Election victory.

Ms Smith hit back after Kim Young retained Sir John Swan's former seat in Paget East. She increased the majority in the rock-solid UBP from the last electoral test, the 1994 by-election which saw Grant Gibbons enter the house.

PLP candidate Craig Walls -- a new wave smart-suited businessman -- got one vote less than the lost deposit 39 notched up by PLP firebrand Rolfe Commissiong in 1994.

He beat UBP maverick and Independent candidate Sanders Frith Brown by just one vote.

And in Devonshire South, dairy boss Michael Dunkley retained the seat the last Premier, David Saul vacated last month. PLP candidate fisherman Danny Farias netted 260 votes to Mr. Dunkley's 806. National Liberal Party chairman Charles Jeffers got 106.

But Ms Smith pointed to the 55 percent turnout in Paget East and the 54.5 percent in Devonshire South, despite what she said were massive UBP efforts to mobilise the vote, as evidence of voter dissatisfaction.

The UBP, however, claimed after the results that the polls were around average or better for a by-election and that it was difficult to mobilise votes following primaries in stronghold seats.

Ms Smith said the choice of candidates -- both political newcomers over established party figures -- was significant.

She claimed: "We think that these two strongholds gave the UBP a message -- a very strong message -- that the voters are not satisfied with the status quo and that they want people in who will represent them.'' But she insisted that the results sent no significant message to the PLP -- also under a relatively new woman leader and undergoing a re-vamp.

Ms Smith said: "I am certainly not going to take Paget East or Devonshire South as my bellwethers -- they are not.'' She said she was not surprised Mr. Walls showed so badly considering then-Sen.

Lynda Milligan-Whyte, who has since quit the Upper House, was not chosen as the UBP candidate.

Ms Smith added: "I am quite pleased with Danny Farias' showing -- we need to get out on the doorstep more in that constituency and he is committed to doing that in a General Election.

"Every house we were able to visit were impressed by their acceptance -- certainly nobody thought they had been served well in the past. The fact that that did not result in PLP support is not surprising.

"If I can use the dissatisfaction with the Government party as any kind of bellwether, it tells me I just have to make sure I get all my votes out.'' The National Liberal Party's executive committee is set to meet on Monday night to discuss its future following the Devonshire South by-election.

Mr. Jeffers had said that failure to get 25 percent of the vote could result in the demise of the party. Mr. Jeffers polled about nine percent.

Jennifer Smith