Progressive Labour Party leadership challenger Ewart Brown has nearly twice the support of Premier Alex Scott according to the latest poll.

However it also shows Finance Minister Paula Cox would have more public backing than Dr. Brown in a head-to-head fight.

But yesterday she ruled herself out of a run for the Premiership and threw her weight behind Mr. Scott in a move which could help him cling on in a race which party insiders are saying is too close to call. The Research Innovations Ltd telephone poll of 403 registered voters taken last week shows the Premier on 30.3 percent compared to 59.1 percent for Dr. Brown.

The former Tourism and Transport Minister scores better among women with 65.3 percent backing him compared to just 26.7 percent for Mr. Scott.

And 50.6 percent of men favour the challenger compared to 35.2 percent favouring the incumbent.

Young voters in particular find Alex Scott a turn-off ? just 25.3 percent of 18-35-year-olds favour him compared to 59 percent backing Dr. Brown.

Support is slightly better for Alex Scott in the 36 to 54-year-old camp with 33.9 percent favouring him with 56.7 percent plumping for Dr. Brown.

However the over 55s are heavily in the Dr. Brown camp with 61.7 percent backing him compared to 28.9 percent favouring the incumbent.

The middle income brackets are the most likely to support a change in leadership with 64.9 percent favouring Dr. Brown compared to 26.6 percent for Mr. Scott.

The Premier does slightly better among low income groups with 38.2 percent of those from households earning below $50,000 pledging support while Dr. Brown is still ahead with 51.8 percent.

But those earning more than $100,000 are more than two to one in favour of Dr. Brown who picks up 58.6 percent compared to 27.6 percent for the Premier.

Despite references to plantations in his sometimes racially-tinged invective, Dr. Brown has the overwhelming support of whites with 66.7 percent of those polled backing him compared to just 23.8 percent who back Mr. Scott who got himself in hot water over a leaked email saying he was ?getting tired of listening to, and taking crap from people who look and sound like (Tony) Brannon? although he denied this was a racial reference. Dr. Brown gets the support of 54.8 percent of blacks while Alex Scott gets 36 percent.

However if Finance Minister Paula Cox entered the fight it would be blown wide open with Ewart Brown on 37.5 percent, Paula Cox on 32.8 percent and Alex Scott on just 17.6 percent.

And if Ms Cox alone took on Dr. Brown she would have the most public support with 48.1 percent of the public favouring her against 42.7 percent for Dr. Brown. It?s a case of opposites attract regarding the genders with 54 percent of men backing Ms Cox against 35.8 percent favouring Dr. Brown.

However Dr. Brown woos the female vote with 48.4 percent favouring him compared to 43.1 percent preferring Ms Cox.

It?s the middle-aged who provide Ms Cox?s core support with 52.6 percent favouring her compared to 37.4 percent liking Dr. Brown who just edges ahead in the 18-35-year-old category and over 55-year-old category.

Ms Cox is favoured by 53.6 percent of the lower income groups compared to 44.5 backing Dr. Brown.