October 5 election will be won "on the doorsteps.'' In what is expected to be a hotly-contested election in which a handful of marginal constituencies decide the outcome, both the United Bermuda Party and the Progressive Labour Party said it was their canvassing that would lead them to victory.

But both parties also planned to enter voters' homes through their television sets.

In the run-up to yesterday's election call, the UBP did much more than knock on doors. Highlighting new candidates and the Government's "ability to manage change,'' the party launched a television, radio, and newspaper advertising blitz, and the Premier sent a letter to every Island voter.

The unprecedented pre-campaign culminated on Wednesday with the release of the party's "Blueprint for Bermuda'' -- a neatly-packaged bundle of 110 promises in nine policy areas.

"The United Bermuda Party -- The future depends on it,'' is a major campaign theme.

The PLP, meanwhile, has kept a lower profile but maintains it has been preparing for the campaign for more than a year. The tempo would change now that the writs were issued, campaign co-chairman Sen. Alex Scott said yesterday.

The PLP platform would be released soon, and a "leadership team'' would emerge in which the party's "key Parliamentarians'' played a major role.

"X-change them'' is the PLP theme.

At a news conference, Sen. Scott unveiled a five-minute television advertisement he said would run nightly this week.

TV spots normally ran 30 or 60 seconds, but "we feel it's a very important crossroads in our history as a country, and the public should not be given little sound bites,'' he said.

The "cosmetic'' and "slick'' UBP ads were produced with overseas help, but the PLP used all local talent for its ads, he said. Before the campaign is over, Bermudians would see "a film production that is going to be quite exceptional, both in content and in concept,'' Sen. Scott said.

A leader's debate could be held. Opposition Leader Mr. Frederick Wade said yesterday he was ready to debate "any time, any place, any day that can be arranged.'' Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan said he would want to think about it. The UBP's Blueprint for Bermuda was "the biggest debating item,'' which needed to be debated "between candidates and their respective constituents.'' Rallies and campaign meetings were not expected to play a major role.

Dr. Grant Gibbons, UBP campaign chairman, said: "We like to feel that our candidates have been out there for some time now,'' and "it's a question of really putting our platform to the voters on the doorsteps.'' In advertising, the party would continue to highlight its new faces, but "you'll also see a lot of our more experienced ones out there as well.'' Sen. Scott said the PLP felt confident about its canvassing effort, and the outcome could be decided by the party's success in getting voters to the polls.

"The machine on the (polling) day could win it,'' he said. "We know the UBP is extremely good at this,'' and "we have lectured long and hard to our members'' about the importance of assuring supporters vote.