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Iain Watson
Political correspondent

So is the Boris Johnson bandwagon unstoppable?

It's worth remembering that the leading candidate at the same stage in the Conservative leadership contest in 2005 was David Davis, who went on to lose.

And in 2001, it was Michael Portillo, who then failed to make the final two.

So, opponents of Mr Johnson could still gang up and do him in.

But as one canny Conservative observer put it, "backing Boris is the ambitious thing to do".

With Mr Johnson so far in front, MPs who want to climb the ministerial ladder may try to board his bandwagon now.

But his relatively rare media appearances mean that, presumably, the former foreign secretary recognises that he can be his own worst enemy.

His longstanding ally Conor Burns tells me he takes nothing for granted.

Mr Johnson carries his lead like an impressive yet fragile precious vase - his opponents will be hoping if they can't trip him up, he will fall over his own feet.

But on Brexit especially, his detractors cannot unite around a single alternative vision - and that may be his best hope of avoiding disaster.

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Tory MP Simon Hoare says the number of votes for his preferred candidate, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, were “where we expected them to be”.

He says it is "clear that Boris Johnson has secured a place" in the final ballot of party members, which will take place once only two candidates are left.

Mr Hoare says he expects the next ballot - due next week - will focus on who is best placed to ensure the contest does not turn into an "electoral coronation".

This will require someone "diametrically different" to Mr Johnson, he says - adding that he is confident Mr Javid can be that person.

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Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, who is backing Boris Johnson, says his man is off to a “good start” but there is a “long way to go” in the contest.

“I’ve been around through a number of Conservative leadership contests – the one thing you never do is take anything for granted in them,” he cautions.

Questioned about Mr Johnson’s lack of public appearances, he says is it “sensible” for candidates to spend time courting their party colleagues at this stage of the race.

“I know there’s always a demand for media appearances, but actually the way you make progress in a Conservative leadership contest is to spend time with your colleagues,” he says.

On Brexit, he says there is “good reason” for the EU to find a new deal that will get through Parliament by October, and it is important “not to kick the can down the road again”.

Parliament's register of interests shows the former foreign secretary has received the most donations.

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Conservative MP Maggie Throup says that the "momentum is really with us now" after her preferred candidate, Matt Hancock, got through to the next round with 20 votes.

"It's all to play for," she adds, with Mr Hancock getting "more votes than we anticipated".

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Rory Stewart backer David Gauke says he is the candidate who is "doing a lot better than people thought" and he is "connecting with the British public".

"Rory is demonstrating that he is the most forceful, the most courageous, the most articulate" contender, he states.

He says that Mr Stewart will be "levelling with the British people, straight talking", when it comes to the realities of Brexit.

"There is a bit of an X-factor about Rory," he adds. "He's a very, very exciting figure... He could pull off a surprise."

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Michael Gove backer Nicky Morgan says: "Michael will take the fight to Boris."

She says that Mr Gove should have an opportunity to put his case to Conservative Party members as one of the final two candidates.

On Mr Gove's previous cocaine use, she says that people "don't like it" but "he's been candid about it".

"I think he has absolutely got through it," she adds, saying he's an "original Brexiteer".