laced up their election boots.

Government and the Opposition clashed over who should bask in the glory of the Base reprieve.

PLP leader Mr. Frederick Wade had claimed he should share credit after his phone calls to Congress.

He said he had influenced key Congressmen before the Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan.

And yesterday he ridiculed Sir John's meeting with Congressman Mr. Ron Dellums.

He said Sir John had barely time for a handshake and a Press photo with the man behind legislation which had threatened the Base.

But the Premier, moments after calling the election, was scathing in his response.

"I have to smile. I sympathise with Mr. Wade, who would obviously love to be part of the whole process.

"The public elected a Government to look after their affairs. He feels left out of the system.'' Sir John also poured scorn on Mr. Wade's visit yesterday to the Black Caucus of Congress in Washington.

He described the Black Caucus meeting as a "party''. There was no certainty of talking to the most influential people.

Meanwhile, the National Liberal Party also used the Base issue to take swings at its election rivals.

It accused Government of waiting until the 11th-hour before tackling the Base crisis.

But it questioned the integrity of Mr. Wade over his Washington trip.

Recently Mr. Wade had demanded the US Government pay rent for the US Naval Air Station.

Now the US was threatening to withdraw the Progressive Labour Party had changed tack, said NLP chairman Mr. Geoff Parker.

"This flip flopping by the PLP must surely embarrass their supporters. First income tax, now the Base issue...where will it end?'' It was clear yesterday the three parties were using the Base crisis as the first chance to go for the jugular. Sir John fired the election starting gun days after a whirlwind series of trips to whip up US and British support for the Base.

He has been to London, Brussels, and, most recently, Washington.

Legislation threatening the immediate future of the Base had been drafted by the House Armed Services Committee.

A clause in it would have cut funding for the Base 90 days after the legislation was passed.

But this week it emerged the clause had been withdrawn.

Sir John said the mini triumph followed talks with Congressmen, including Mr.

Dellums, chairman of the armed services committee.

"We have very good contacts. We used them and produced results.'' Yesterday Sir John sought to dampen over optimism over the Base.

"Although we have gotten some forms of respite, we must not treat it as though we have come to the end of the challenge.'' He said he had been warned in Washington that Bermuda could no longer rely on the Bases, including the Naval Annex in Southampton.

Sir John revealed he would probably visit Washington again before October 5.

The issue of whether the closure of America's foreign and domestic bases should be handled in the same way still had to be resolved.

And the question of responsibility for the Civil Air Terminal -- now operated by the US forces -- had not been settled, said Sir John.

"We can't just leave that to our convenience.'' And on the election's timing, Sir John stated: "I wanted to make sure I had the Base issue resolved to a stage that I could park it for a while.'' Sir John went on to scoff at Mr. Wade's Black Caucus visit.

The Black Caucus meeting was basically a "party, at which he might or might not meet certain people,'' said Sir John.

"We all know somebody who knows somebody, but that doesn't mean you know the right people to get the job done.

"If he can help in any way, I glory him in his spirit. That's what it's all about -- being able to help each other to get the job done.'' Sir John accused Mr. Wade of the "most fanciful rewriting of history that I've ever heard''.

Mr. Wade, however, hit back robustly.

He accused Sir John of manufacturing an election issue out of the Base.

Mr. Wade said talks with Congressmen had shown the US wanted to put the Base issue on hold until after the election in Bermuda.

That way the US Government would know who it was dealing with.

"The US has no preference over who ought to be Premier,'' said Mr. Wade.

Mr. Wade also slammed Sir John for placing the "party'' tag on the Black Caucus meeting.

It was an insult.

The Black Caucus met every year, and was made up of serious people with influence.

Mr. Wade went on to mock Sir John's meeting with Mr. Dellums, saying he had received an eye witness account of it.

"I understand that they called Mr. Dellums out of the House of Representative to meet the Premier.

"Mr. Dellums came out and had just two or three words. There was time to shake hands, have a photograph taken, and that was that.'' FIGHTING TALK -- PLP leader Mr. Frederick Wade (right) rams home a point as he answers the Premier's election call yesterday. Next to him is his campaign co-chairman Sen. Alex Scott.