12/18/2007 11:25:00 AM Premier Brown aiming for a 'respectable margin'
Early birds: Premier Ewart Brown and his wife Wanda meet and greet voters at St. Mary’s Church Hall in Warwick this morning. Dr. Brown intends to visit all 36 constituencies today. *Photo by Nigel Regan
TUESDAY, DEC. 18: Premier Ewart Brown's campaign manager Andre Curtis is predicting the Progressive Labour Party will win 28 seats in today's general election and that Dr. Brown's constituency is "in the bag". Dr. Brown meanwhile, told us this morning he just wants to retain a "respectable margin."
Dr. Brown started the day early, getting up at 6.15am after a huge rally at Devonshire Rec last night. After a cup of coffee, he and his wife Wanda headed straight for his constituency, Warwick South Central. By 8am, there were already about 50 people waiting for the polling station at St. Mary's Church Hall to open.
Dr. Brown told us: "I'm feeling great. I slept well. I want every living soul in Bermuda to come out and vote."
His opponent, Roderick Simons was there at the crack of dawn, too. "Quite honestly, I'm feeling numb. I just want it over with. I've been out and about talking to people and now it's time," he said.
A steady stream of voters flowed into the church hall between 8am and 9am. Dr. Brown hugged children and his wife held two-month-old Sophia Pereira, while her mother Danika, whose car was decked out in green PLP flags and banners, went inside to vote.
The PLP seemed to have the edge among early voters, but as Mr. Simons pointed out, Bermudian politeness can often belie a person's true feelings.
One voter told us: "I came out this morning because I wanted my voice to be heard. There was never a doubt about who I was going to vote for."
Her daughter, 30, added: "I voted for Brown. I think he's the best man for the job."
Mr. Simons, who stood at the polling station with two supporters including Winfield Todd, who claimed to have helped the PLP get elected in 1998, is in it for the long haul. "I'm going to be here for the day, right through until 8pm. I'll probably be here for the result."
He said he's done everything he can do and all he can do now is wait and see what happens.
Mr. Curtis, who ran Dr. Brown's campaign and heads up the controversial Faith based Tourism initiative, was exceptionally confident.
He said: "Things are going extremely well. I can say that right now it's in the bag - this whole election is in the bag; these people aren't foolish, they are not easily tricked. I've done my homework and I predict 28 seats."
Dr. Brown left St. Mary's Church Hall at about 8.30am, leaving his wife to meet and greet voters. He is expected to tour all the constituencies today. After that, "I'll go home, put my feet up, take a nice shower and then off to Alaska Hall [the PLP's headquarters]."
The polls close at 8pm. Results are expected to come in after 9pm. We will be posting election stories on our website throughout the day. For the best and most comprehensive election coverage see tomorrow's Bermuda Sun.
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Posted: Tuesday, December 18, 2007
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voter
The election results etc. will be webcast live, go here to see:
http://www.citv.gov.bm/citv-ourshows.htm
