Ever thought that canvassing for support was a walk in the park?

It certainly hasn't been for one unfortunate United Bermuda Party candidate who, greeting voters through gritted teeth at the polling station yesterday, revealed to The Royal Gazette that he had been suffering from bowel problems in the last couple of days of electioneering.

"It gives a whole new meaning to the expression 'running for office'," he said, grimacing at the thought of eleven more hours under a hot umbrella.

Apparently the United Bermuda Party was forced to re-locate its election nerve centre at the last minute from Cumberland House - behind the City Hall car park - to the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute (BUEI) after concerns from the building's owner over security.

The move caused havoc for the television news teams who had spent days setting up their live transmission links at the first venue.

The switch obviously left ZBM's Mike Sharpe a little confused. When the station did a live link-up to the BUEI just as the polls were closing, a bewildered Mike looked like a rabbit caught in headlights. He spluttered and stumbled over his commentary before awkwardly handing back to Gary Moreno in the studio. It seemed as if the veteran broadcaster didn't have a clue as to where he was. Perhaps Mike ought to stick to sports journalism in the future.

So what is the right age to introduce your child to the seedy world of politics?

One small child happily accompanied her mother along to the polling station yesterday morning to get her first glimpse of democracy in action. Later, when asked who her mummy had voted for, she said, after much hesitation: "She cheers for the Ps." And when asked why, she said the other party - "the, um, um, um... Ls" - were going to do "something stupid".

She did not know what the other letters of the alphabet were doing for the rest of the day.

Premier Jennifer Smith arrived at St. David's polling station during the afternoon with a small entourage. Her car was parked a few feet from PLP candidate Danny Seymour's tent. The Premier emerged and spent a few minutes talking to Mr. Seymour and his supporters.

When she was ready to leave, she told one of her people to "get the car". The supporter pointed at it. Words were exchanged, and the car was driven forward six feet. The Premier then got in and drove off her to next appointment.

At Dellwood Middle School, the polling station for Constituency 14, the PLP's Nelson Bascome and Scott Hunter of the UBP were wondering, in mid-morning, how many votes had been cast. Mr. Bascome made a call on his cell phone and had the number, almost instantly - 142.

"How did you do that? " Mr. Hunter asked. "It's the machinery, mate," Mr. Bascome replied.

In St. David's, District Three, the machinery did not work as well. Even the PLP vote counter had their man Seymour at no more than 98 votes when the voting was over. The UBP machinery had him at 150, maximum. Mr. Seymour left the station as the count began. At the half-way point, he had more than 200 votes and, in the end, collected 384 votes and missed election by just 15.

Dean Foggo didn't miss a trick when it came to eleventh-hour efforts to swing a voter his way.

As the PLP's Mr. Foggo waited outside the St. George's West polling station alongside his UBP rival Kim Swan to greet voters, along came a woman with a dog. The woman shook hands with Mr. Swan and then moved on to Mr. Foggo. The PLP candidate shook her hand and quick as a flash spotted her immediate problem of what to do with the canine non-voter.

"Let me take your dog," he said, grabbing the leash from her and winning some brownie points.

As soon as the voter was inside the polling station he handed the leash to one of his PLP colleagues and prepared to shake the next voter's hand.

Maybe in the campaigns of the future, holding the dog outside the polling station will be right up there with kissing babies.

Getting right into election fever, Sonia Wayman, a resident in Constituency One, St. George's North, thought it would be great to be the first person in the first constituency to vote.

She arrived at the polling station a full 15 minutes ahead of it opening, beating even the candidates. "I was the first in line," Ms Wayman said.

"The Police were there, the returning officers were there and the politicians were arriving.

"I wanted to make a point. It's a great day," the programme manager for the XL Foundation said. "It's an opportunity for us to voice our opinion."

Finance Minister Eugene Cox didn't quite put his money where his mouth was, more where his throat is.

For the veteran parliamentarian sported a highly appropriate tie festooned with dollar bills while at his count in Sandys North. The vote itself wasn't a tie, the PLP's Mr. Cox beating the UBP's Gerald Fubler by 451 votes to 252.

It was all very good natured down at Warwick North East, where the Mighty Mark Pettingill took on Progressive Labour Party favourite Dapper Dale Butler.

Both men were in great jovial spirits, and Constituency 25 was said to have the best atmosphere of any of the polling stations around the Island, with one voter even bringing the candidates ice cream cones in their respective red and green colours.

But in true election style, the competition between the two wannabe MPs was hot.

Mr. Butler eagerly approached The Royal Gazette's reporter to show off the goodie bags he had put together for everyone who was assisting him at Paget Primary School.

"They have got home-made cookies in them, peanuts, popcorn, one of my books and a thank you card," said a grateful Mr. Butler.

But not to be outdone, Mr. Pettingill quipped back: "Yes, well you might have goodie bags, but I have given all my assistants free flights to any destination of their choice on the Eastern Seaboard."

It's official: Suave Progressive Labour Party MP Dale Butler has been voted the most romantic person in the House of Assembly. Dashing Dale was told so yesterday while he greeted people at the polling station at Paget Primary School, and judging by the lipstick all over his jacket, there is obviously some truth to the claim.

But dishing out the bait yet again, Mr. Pettingill hit back yesterday afternoon, and said: "I'm hoping that by tonight he is going to be the most romantic person outside of the House of Assembly."

The Royal Gazette was the first to tell former senator Neville Darrell he had won in Constituency 28, Warwick West. Mr. Darrell had left before the count started but when called he said he was "thrilled" to hear the news but wanted to make sure it was not a ruse.

But it was all true and Mr. Darrell was happy we had called.