revealed yesterday.

But Premier Pamela Gordon may be considering holding off until the school mid-term break -- the week starting November 9 -- to avoid disruption to schools, which are pressed into service as polling stations.

An announcement next Thursday would mean -- if a 21-day campaign is run as expected -- the election would be held on Thursday, October 29.

And Ms Gordon could be poised to drop the writ announcing the date after the United Bermuda Party caucus meets next Thursday.

The move would mean the Premier would go to the Country around a month after releasing the party's ambitious five-year plan, Keys to Partnership.

And the party is thought to be banking on a feel-good factor surrounding the announcement of the new blueprint to propel it back to power.

But an election much later than a month after its release risks dissipating any positive vibes from the Keys to Partnership launch.

Unveiling the document, the Premier said she wanted Bermudians to study the proposals closely.

And she added it "would be up to the people of Bermuda to determine whether this plan becomes a reality.'' The Premier has consistently played her cards close to her chest on the date she favours and declined to comment on timing.

The date of the General Election is a decision for the Premier alone, although it is understood Ms Gordon has been listening carefully to the advice of Ministers and party workers.

But party insiders believe the Premier wants a short, three-week campaign -- and no return of the House of Assembly, due to start a new session at the end of this month.

Gordon could go to polls on October 29 And it is understood -- despite autumn being the traditional conference season -- the entire Cabinet will be on the Island next week, possibly in anticipation of the Premier naming the day.

One insider added, however, that party thinking appeared to have isolated several windows of opportunity for calling the General Election.

And October 29 -- 24 days past the five year mark since the last General Election -- is said to be just the first possible date under consideration for polling day.

That would be ten days after the UK House of Commons returns after its summer break -- with the possibility of further details on an upcoming UK White Paper on a British rewrite of its relations with its Overseas Territories being made available.

But other possible election dates understood to be under consideration would be within the first two weeks of November -- on Tuesday, November 3 or a week later on November 9 or 10, just before the Remembrance Day holiday on November 11.

And insiders speculated that it is unlikely the Premier would go beyond the first fortnight of next month due to the possibility of voter fatigue and apathy setting in.