The Enda Kenny camp is claiming over 30 votes for their candidate as the contest for the leadership of Fine Gael enters its final stages.
Mr Kenny was optimistic he would be able to secure the 37 votes necessary to succeed in Friday's poll.
"It's all to play for," he said. "The battle will be won and lost in the corridors of Dail Eireann over the next few days."
His campaign received a boost yesterday with news that the Fine Gael Constituency Executive in Sligo/Leitrim has supported him.
Mayo TD Jim Higgins, who seconded Deputy Michael Ring's proposal of Mr Kenny as party leader, echoed the candidate's optimism.
"Enda is in with a right good shout," Mr Higgins said. "It's a fantastic achievement to come from nowhere and build up a bloc of over 30 votes. We are now beginning the final push for victory."
There was barely concealed annoyance at a Fine Gael constituency meeting in Castlebar on Monday night, attended by more than 300, at the failure of Sligo-Leitrim deputy Mr Gerry Reynolds to row in behind Mr Kenny. Mr Reynolds has proposed Mr Jim Mitchell as leader.
"Public representatives from the west can hardly complain about the region being neglected by Government if they won't vote for one of their own as party leader," Mr Ring complained.
Cllr John Flannery pledged at the meeting to mount an intensive telephone campaign lobbying senators to vote for Mr Kenny.