Hon. Irving Pearman in a recent Penn & Schoen poll which included questions on the Country's leadership, The Royal Gazette has learned.

The poll, conducted for the Bank of Bermuda and the Bank of Butterfield, included questions asking respondents which of those two they would prefer, a source close to the poll confirmed yesterday.

That was because it was believed Mr. Woolridge and Mr. Pearman would be the two contenders for the United Bermuda Party leadership once Premier the Hon.

Sir John Swan resigned.

Gordon leads polling of younger UBP MPs However, Mr. Pearman, who is off the Island, has said he is not interested in succeeding Sir John. And Finance Minister the Hon. David Saul -- who was not polled -- has instead emerged as the other contender and likely victor.

Of poll respondents, 65 percent said they would prefer Mr. Woolridge and 59 percent said they would prefer Mr. Pearman, the source said.

Mr. Woolridge has never polled 80 percent approval, as reported in The Royal Gazette on Monday, the source said.

And the source said the result should be viewed with caution, because Mr.

Woolridge enjoyed huge white support as a result of his anti-Independence stance. Mr. Pearman, more popular among black voters, had support very close to that of Mr. Woolridge in earlier polls.

The same poll asked respondents who they would prefer among three potential younger candidates for the leadership, the source said.

In answer to that question, Youth and Sport Minister the Hon. Pamela Gordon received approval in the range of 50 percent, Human Affairs Minister the Hon.

Jerome Dill received approval in the range of 40 percent, and Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess received approval from fewer than ten percent, the source said.

One year ago, when polled by herself, rather than when the respondents had to choose among three candidates, Ms Gordon polled in the 70 percent range, higher than any other politician, including Sir John, the source said.