Eighty-seven percent of people want Premier Ewart Brown to go through with his plan to step down in October, according to a new poll.

Support for Dr. Brown to stay has fallen most dramatically among the black community, with 82 percent of blacks now hoping he goes, up from 46 percent six months ago.

Among whites, 96 percent want to see a new Progressive Labour Party leader in October, up from 85 percent in January.

Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Paula Cox has edged ahead of backbencher Dale Butler as the candidate most people would like to take over from Dr. Brown.

Thirty-eight percent of people voted for Ms Cox when asked who should lead the PLP after Dr. Brown goes, compared with 37 percent for Mr. Butler and eight percent for former Education Minister Terry Lister.

When the same question was asked in April, 36 percent picked Mr. Butler, 29 percent Ms Cox and six percent Mr. Lister; that poll was carried out while Ms Cox was facing criticism over her Budget and "cog in the wheel" remark.

This time, Mr. Butler once again scored strongly among the white community, with 61 percent picking him compared with 19 percent for Ms Cox. However, Ms Cox took 48 percent of the black vote, against Mr. Butler's 29 percent.

Among PLP supporters, 42 percent went for Ms Cox and 18 percent for Mr. Butler; among United Bermuda Party supporters, 40 percent picked Ms Cox and 39 percent Mr. Butler; among Bermuda Democratic Alliance supporters, 51 percent went for Mr. Butler and 40 percent Ms Cox.

Mr. Butler said yesterday: "We have three very capable people who are interested in running Bermuda and the delegates of the PLP in their wisdom will make the final decision.

"I'm grateful, thankful and humbled, by the result and will continue to do my best for Bermuda."

Ms Cox and Mr. Lister did not respond to requests for a comment.

Backbencher Randy Horton scored best among those considered long shots, with five people naming him when asked whether they preferred anyone other than Ms Cox, Mr. Butler or Mr. Lister.

Two people named Public Safety Minister David Burch, while there was one vote each for former Premiers Dame Jennifer Smith and Alex Scott.

BDA MP Mark Pettingill and UBP Senator Michael Dunkley each got a vote from people perhaps hoping they're planning to switch party allegiances.

The poll by Mindmaps also assessed the favourability of the three parties' leaders and deputies, giving Dr. Brown a rating of 23 percent, up from 21 percent three months ago.

Ms Cox has a rating of 56 percent, up from 47 percent in April but still well short of the high 60s and low 70s she achieved for most of the past three years.

UBP leader Kim Swan has 28 percent, up from 27 percent; his deputy Trevor Moniz rises from 27 percent to 30 percent.

BDA leader Craig Cannonier drops to 22 percent from 25 percent; his deputy Kathy Michelmore goes up from 11 percent to 12 percent.

Dr. Brown's performance approval is 22 percent, no change from three months ago. Not one out of 131 white people approved of the Premier's performance, with 67 percent of whites giving his efforts the lowest possible score of one out of five.

The UBP and BDA declined to comment yesterday; the PLP did not respond to requests for a comment.

The telephone poll of 400 people took place between July 2 and July 6, and has a margin of error of 4.9 percent.