A majority of voters would vote against the ruling party if an election was held now, according to the latest poll. But while both parties have gained support the gap between them remains the same.And the poll shows that racial differences persist - sparking a warning from the United Bermuda Party’s Kim Swan.Just 19 percent of registered voters approved of the performance of the Progressive Labour Partys’ performance since the last general election, with 52 percent saying they disapproved.The Opposition One Bermuda Alliance fared as badly with only 17 percent of voters approving of that party’s performance since its inception.Blacks were more likely to approve of the ruling party’s performance, while whites were more likely to disapprove.But whites were found to be more likely to approve of the OBA’s performance.The poll, conducted this month by MindMaps for The Royal Gazette, found that 79 percent of registered voters were likely to vote in the next general election.Forty-one percent of registered voters reported that they were likely to vote for the Opposition One Bermuda Alliance, compared to 35 percent for the PLP.Those numbers represent a slight improvement for both parties since September when just 33 percent said they would vote in favour of the ruling party and 38 percent for the OBA.And with just one percent of voters saying they would vote in their favour, the United Bermuda Party will have little support at the polls.Whites were more likely to disapprove of the PLP’s performance and blacks were more likely to approve of the PLP’s performance.A strong majority (88 percent) of whites said they would vote for the OBA, with just seven percent saying they would vote PLP, and even less (one percent) for the United Bermuda Party, suggesting that the OBA has inherited the white vote from the UBP.But it appears that support among blacks for the PLP remains relatively soft but seems to be firming up with 52 percent of blacks saying they would vote for the PLP, mirroring the result in October last year just before Premier Paula Cox assumed office. But 30 percent of blacks said they either do not know how they would vote or refused to answer the question. That’s more than the overall total which stands at 25 percent.In January this year, voter support among blacks for the PLP was at 61 percent, but by July it was down to 39 percent, moving up another 10 percentage points by September.The OBA would get 15 percent of the black vote, if an election were called today, according to the survey.The ruling party issued a statement saying that it is “less interested” in poll results but “more focused on navigating our country through perhaps the most challenging times ever seen” and is confident that voters will support them at the polls.“We will continue on our ambitious agenda which will create new jobs and a return to growth,” the statement said.OBA Leader Craig Cannonier declared his party “encouraged by the poll results, but far from satisfied”.“We have much work to do talking with Bermudians about where we need to take this country to build a better future than the one taking shape under the PLP Government.“Our party is committed to growing jobs and paycheques and reducing the Government’s punishing debt.”Kim Swan, who was elected as a UBP MP expressed dismay at what he said was a persistent racial polarisation in Bermuda.“The people of Bermuda need to take their cue from the good people in the St. George’s, Hamilton and Warwick constituencies who have long defied these trends and have broken away from stereotypical voting patterns being suggested by these polls,” Mr Swan said.“The racial polarisation shown here breeds the continuance of huge divisions and equities within Bermuda. “He continued: “The poll is more a snapshot of life as it is Bermuda’s safe seats where the winners are already predetermined. This is the sad reality that we must break away from and change if we really want to come together and unite as a people.“We urge Bermudians to look closely at this poll and see the debilitating effects of racial polarisation, which is still at work in Bermuda.“We all can agree that racial polarisation is socially unhealthy and that it contributes in part to why we remain divided in Bermuda both socially and economically.“Whilst we often hear persons claiming to want a truly bring our people together on all levels, we need for all Bermudians to come to terms with this unhealthy polarisation and racial blockade.”