Can Clegg be caught?
James Forsyth 11:23am
Following this weekend’s release of a YouGov poll that showed Nick Clegg ahead of Chris Huhne by 56 to 44, the Clegg camp have released their own internal numbers which show him with 61 percent of the vote. But things might not be as comfortable for the front runner as these figures suggest. A party source tells the BBC that only around half of party members have voted so far. Those who’ve delayed sending in their ballots must have noticed how Huhne has been dominating the air waves in recent days while Clegg has been nowhere.
If Clegg wins, the next hurdle for him is to beat Huhne by a larger margin than Ming Campbell did, Campbell won 57 to 42 in second round. If Clegg fails to better this result despite all the advantages that he possessed at the beginning of the contest, it would show what a damp squib his leadership campaign has been and minimise the momentum that he would accrue from his victory.
Previous
Comments
Peter Welch
December 3rd, 2007 4:21pmThe fact that half of all voters have already voted makes it harder, not easier, for Chris Huhne to pull off a surprise victory. This article explains why http://www.liberalreview.com/node/925
Travis Bickle
December 3rd, 2007 4:29pmExcuse me, in current climate, for reading your headline question and thinking "why, what's he done?"
David Lindsay
December 3rd, 2007 5:00pmOh dear, Chris Huhne. The planning permission that David Abrahams obtained for Durham Green Business Park was granted, not by Durham County Council (the first council that Labour ever won, and which it has never lost since), but by Durham City Council. Which is controlled by - wait for it - the Lib Dems.
James Strong
December 3rd, 2007 6:02pmI have asked before, but my comments have not appeared, why is the Spectator pro-Clegg in the LibDem leadership contest? Do you think he'd be more effective as a leader for the LibDems or do you think a Clegg victory would change the way the other parties and leaderships relate to each other?
Chris Cummins
December 4th, 2007 8:17amWhy ? What's he done.
Roger Sweet
December 4th, 2007 12:21pmSo far no feedback fom Nick Clegg or Chris Huhne re the UK's Decent Homes Scheme policy which according to council sources is now in crisis due to lack of funds? Whatis the truth and are the present leadership contenders remotely interested and concerned. Rather than courting the CBI they should be addressing bread and butter issues nationally and locally which has been where the LIBS normally excel.