BRITAIN: Tory leader front-runner David Davis has insisted supporters should not vote tactically to dump Ken Clarke out of the leadership contest.
On the eve of the party conference the number of MPs publicly backing Mr Davis reached 66, virtually ensuring his place in the final membership ballot.
Polls suggest Mr Clarke, who says he is the party's only "big beast" capable of taking on Chancellor Gordon Brown, poses the greatest threat if he can make it through the knock-out ballots of MPs.
In 2001 tactical voting was suspected when favourite Michael Portillo failed to make the final round.
However, Mr Davis rejected suggestions his supporters might back other candidates in early rounds to knock the former chancellor out.
"I'm told it has happened in previous leadership elections but I don't really believe in that," he said.
"I actually think one of the problems we have had over time is that people have not had the choice they wanted.
"And I want the party and the country to have the choice." As Conservatives headed to Blackpool for their annual gathering, another 10 MPs declared for Mr Davis, giving him a third of the parliamentary party.
With MPs deciding which two candidates will face off in the final leadership ballot, other candidates face a race for second place.
However, rival Liam Fox warned it would be "dangerously presumptuous" for any contender to take MPs for granted.
Dr Fox was boosted by an endorsement from Tory donor Stuart Wheeler, who once gave the party £5 million, the largest single donation.
Mr Wheeler, who will fund his campaign, also threatened to stop giving to the party if Mr Clarke was elected.
Asked how he would use the cash, Dr Fox said: "I have not even thought that far ahead because we have to get through the MPs' rounds first.
"And I think that anyone who thinks that they have got the MPs in the bag is dangerously presumptuous."
However, his prospects are threatened by a potential challenge from Michael Ancram.
The deputy party leader, tipped to enter the race during the week, could take the support of the right-wing Cornerstone group Dr Fox needs to make it through the early rounds.
Fellow candidate David Cameron warned that Dr Fox would take the party to the right and more electoral failure.
Mr Cameron suggested that Mr Davis could not be trusted to follow through on his pledge to modernise the party.
"I started this campaign by saying that I am a modern, compassionate Conservative, that is me," he said.
"David Davis has definitely moved in that direction, but I would say buy Coca-Cola. If you like Coke, get the real thing.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, currently trailing the pack, will invoke images of Churchill in a bid to rally support when he comes the first contender to address conference tomorrow.
Pressing his moderate One Nation credentials, he will say: "We are the party of social conscience as well as the party of lower taxes and strong defence." However, fellow One Nation Tory and former Cabinet colleague Mr Clarke insisted only he can beat Labour when Mr Brown succeeds Tony Blair. - (PA)