David Davis cannot have enjoyed his weekend. His campaign faced one blow after another. A YouGov poll gave his opponent a commanding lead. The Daily Mail endorsed Mr Cameron and then William Hague and Liam Fox did the same. Yesterday morning saw The Sunday Times declare for the frontrunner. The Economist, FT, Independent and Times had already endorsed Mr Cameron. The sluggish Telegraph is yet to nail its colours to the mast but it is unlikely to endorse the Shadow Home Secretary.
After the weekend of gloom Mr Davis will have enjoyed this morning's Today programme. A focus group of north London floating voters - assembled by Opinion Leader Research for that programme - gave a unanimous thumbs up to Mr Davis. None of the group's members wanted David Cameron - who was found to be too similar to Tony Blair (at a time when his star is fading) and had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth. David Davis, on the other hand, was thought to have the "common background", character and spirit to be a successful Tory leader. When asked to compare the two men to an animal one woman chose a leopard for Mr Davis. Like a leopard he wouldn't change his spots, she hoped.
Another compared Mr Davis to C S Lewis' Aslan - because of his character and charisma. David Cameron (who has been likened to Tolkien's Frodo) was compared to a monkey - he looks cute but could easily be aggressive, said one of the group's members.
This group's conclusions are not scientific, of course, and contrast with the findings of similar research carried out by Frank Luntz for Newsnight. You can hear the group's discussion by accessing the 7.10am slot on the Today Listen Again page.
If you would like to hear David Davis this Thursday night at the Centre for Social Justice please access ConservativeHome's new Events listing service.
One day, Barbara, you will post a comment, the thrust of which does not depend on trumpeting your own experience. Fascinating though your life is, it is not the answer to life, the universe and everything.
Posted by: Gareth | 15 November 2005 at 07:51
Jack what mental hospital ward are you in know. You have no base for your comments which again shows how out of touch you are and why we simple have to have Davis to stand a chance of winning?
Posted by: Peter | 15 November 2005 at 10:27
You're getting a bit mean, Peter. Less personalisation please.
Posted by: Editor | 15 November 2005 at 14:28
"Jack what mental hospital ward are you in now"
Wards are gone, turned into sites for executive homes - it is "Care In The Community" now
Posted by: Rick | 15 November 2005 at 15:01
Sorry Tim about comment but what about Jack comment about Davis having no chance of winning. This has no base in fact but no comment saying that he should not be personal when attacking the candidate?
Posted by: Peter | 16 November 2005 at 09:13
If the Tories backed the call for an English Parliament they could ignore Labour in England as they would always be in the majority ......unfortunately that isn't something the Tories have grasped yet - soon very soon perhaps?
Posted by: English Lion | 26 November 2005 at 11:10