Tory leader candidate Michael Portillo today warned Tories to "adapt or die" as the party's 166 MPs prepared to try and whittle down the contenders after Tuesday's false start.
But the hopes of the frontrunner in the Conservative Party leadership race suffered ablow when a survey by the Daily Mailof 300 local Tory constituency party chairmen and other senior officials found 58 per cent would not be happy with him as leader - and that 34 per cent would.
The paper questioned them in detail about his reported attitudes on legalisation of cannabis; repeal of Clause 28, which bans the promotion of homosexuality in schools; and the introduction of all-women shortlists.
But in a Daily Telegrapharticle, Mr Portillo argued that although he would not seek to change the party's principles, they had to adapt if they were to convince a broader public that they understood their concerns.
"However comfortable the old ways might be, it is necessary to adapt or die. There is widespread recognition in the party that, after two landslide defeats, we have got to be serious about change," he wrote.
"Freedom matters. Personal responsibility matters. But it is no good preaching the eternal truths of Conservatism if the language we use is stuck in a particular time and place - the England of 25 or 50 years ago."
His plea came ahead of today's re-run of the first ballot which had to be held after Mr David Davis and Mr Michael Ancram tied for last place on Tuesday, meaning that neither could be eliminated.
If there is another last place draw this evening, both the candidates will go out, leaving just three in the contest, which would mean that the final ballot of MPs would be next Tuesday.
Mr Portillo, Mr Iain Duncan Smith and Mr Kenneth Clarke were all hoping to pick up extra support to help propel them into the final two who will go forward into the decisive postal ballot of the party's 300,000 membership.
PA