Mr Kenneth Clarke this evening said he is confident he can become the next leader of the Conservative Party.
He said he was relieved to get through the latest ballot of MPs as the outcome had been "too close to call".
Mr Clarke said the "strange rules" of whittling down the candidates to only two meant Mr Michael Portillo had "drawn the short straw".
Mr Portillo was eliminated with 53 votes. Mr Clarke topped the ballot with 59, while Mr Iain Duncan Smith received 54 votes.
Mr Portillo announced he is to withdraw from frontline politics saying: "I don't intend ever again" to be on the front bench.
Mr Clarke told reporters: "I am relieved this stage of the voting is over and look forward to leading the party in September.
"I think I can win. I've demonstrated that I can pull support from all across the party.
"Iain Duncan Smith is a colleague I admire. I would have felt very sorry for whoever had been knocked out - I've a lot of time for Michael Portillo."