The Premier likened the election to a boxing match while the Opposition leader called on all groups to tone down their rhetoric last night.

At a Progressive Labour Party rally attended by more than a thousand people in the West End last night the infamous puppet ad, which alleges UBP candidate Wayne Scott is Micheal Dunkley's puppet, aired and Premier Ewart Brown likened the election to a "12 round fight" and said his party would not be throwing in the towel. But he called for Bermuda to unite again on Wednesday — the day after the election — and put divisive politics behind them.

Meanwhile United Bermuda Party leader Michael Dunkley signed a statement calling for everyone to "tone down the rhetoric" and be "respectful and tolerant".

But he refused to condemn an anti-independence group known as Realty of Independence Group. Last night Mr. Dunkley refused to signal out ROI and called all groups to halt the divisive rhetoric while Dr. Brown read out parts of Mr. Dunkley's letter at the rally and stated "I can hardly finish — hold on to your stomachs" before reading the last few sentences of the letter. He added: "We signed up for a 12 round fight and we have had our share of body blows; pay to play; Brown steals dogs; Brown kills chickens; Brown beats wife.

"There's everything, dragging me through the mud, dragging my wife's name through the mud and then in the tenth round you want to throw in the towel? No!

"I am all for being warm and friendly and shaking hands for the front page of the newspaper but I am a boxing fan and boxing fans don't like to have the fight called before the final round.

"This fight started in June and they've been pounding us everyday for half a year and in their last opportunity for a weekend hit tomorrow they will come with their last shovel of dirt. When we finally hit back then they throw in the towel and call for an end to the fight. How cute!

"You started the fight and we are going to finish it."

A minute later Dr. Brown added: "But know this, what ever happens on Tuesday evening we must all wake up on Wednesday morning and be Bermudians. Bermudians dedicated to getting this nasty election campaign behind them and forging full steam ahead united in our efforts to make our Island paradise a better place for those who come behind us.

"We must recover quickly from the ills of negative rhetoric and division and awaken to the promise of wholesome action in a patriotic indivisible union for the sake of our children, our elders, ourselves and our prosperity."

Meanwhile Mr. Dunkley signed a joint statement from the Premier and him — but omitted the line referring to ROI. He said: "You have signalled out one particular group by name and we do not think this is appropriate.

"My plea to you — which will now become our joint appeal to the people — was that we should call on all groups by whatever means they might employ to tone down the rhetoric and commit to conducting the rest of this election campaign in a respectful and tolerant manner."