Political pundits on both ends of the spectrum agree that in choosing a long election campaign, Government may have forfeited some advantage.

And both former United Bermuda Party campaign manager Michael Winfield and Progressive Labour Party-supporting pollster Walton Brown said turnout could dip in a close-run election after detecting a degree of voter dissatisfaction with both parties.

Mr. Brown said a long campaign made for a more level playing field while a short one favoured the Government because they were already prepared.

"A long campaign allows for the parties to disseminate their message to the public in a manner not possible in a short campaign. People can reflect and listen carefully."

But he conceded the longer campaign had more to do with complications caused by a new electoral system and map rather than a commitment to fairness.

"But it definitely strengthens the democratic process," he added.

Mr. Winfield, who has managed every UBP campaign but one since 1980, agreed that shorter campaigns favoured Government, even though the Opposition had started early with regular pre-election press conferences.

"There is some difference between a pre-election campaign, where you are trying to focus the public's mind on the differences between the two parties, and the actual election campaign where you must convince people to vote for you," said Mr. Winfield.

Getting the vote out will be crucial, more so than in other elections, he said.

"I think turnout is an issue but I think there is a general feeling of apathy. Having it in the middle of summer exaggerates this.

"To my knowledge it is the first time the election has been held in the summer."

The longer daylight hours can extend the time on the doorstep but Mr. Winfield said it remained to be seen whether people wanted to entertain canvassers at 8 or 9 p.m.

The timing of the election surprised Mr. Brown, but he said a summer poll favoured the PLP if they could draw on support from younger people.

However, the downside for the Government were unresolved issues such as Cuba and the Housing Corporation scandal.

"I would like to have seen some attempt to address those issues," he said.

Neither pundit went along with the theory that the summer poll would harm the UBP as a lot of its voters went on vacations.

With increasing affluence, it is difficult to argue that UBP supporters travel more than those backing the PLP while there is always advanced polling for those leaving the Island, they said.

Mr. Brown said the new seats caused a new level of uncertainty because decreased number of voters in each seats increased their volatility while for Mr. Winfield the new boundaries will favour the PLP.

The decline in the Premier's popularity could put her under pressure in the newly redrawn St. George's seat after she turned the former UBP area into a PLP stronghold, Mr. Brown added.

The traditional issues of housing and tourism will be key to the campaign, he added.

And he feared Bermuda's place in the world economy will not get the attention it needs in the campaign, despite the Island facing the threat of repatriation of US companies and new European Union social policy directives.

For Mr. Winfield, personal financial security will play most in voters' minds.

"A lot of people will be asking `which party is capable of enhancing my financial security as an individual?'"

Bermuda's traditionally high level of voter turnout shouldn't be taken for granted this time around, they said. "A number of the electorate might say I don't like what the PLP are doing and I am not sure I want the UBP to take over, hence it might lead them to not vote," said Mr. Winfield.

Mr. Brown agreed: "It's something both parties will have to work on to ensure it is high.

"So many people are disaffected because they believe political parties don't address the issues that speak to them."

For Mr. Brown, one of the election dynamics will be candidate selection with around seven Government members believed to be stepping down.