Boris Johnson has put the Tories in an election war footing - as a poll found voters believe he can win back Eurosceptics and defeat Corbyn.
The leadership favourite fuelled rumours of an early ballot by telling a hustings event he would 'get Brexit done and get ready for an election'.
The dramatic vow came as a survey found 47 per cent of the public think he can defeat Labour and Nigel Farage - while just 22 per cent think he would lose.
His ratings are way ahead of other leadership contenders such as Jeremy Hunt and Michael Gove.
However, in a worrying sign for Mr Johnson's supporters, nearly six in 10 said he was not the kind of man they would buy a used car from.
The scale of the challenge he faces was also underlined with the YouGov research showing that overall the Brexit Party is still leading on 24 per cent - three points of both the Conservatives and Labour.
Mr Johnson goes into the second week of the Tory campaign the red-hot favourite to succeed Theresa May, having racked up support from 114 MPs in the first ballot - more than his next three rivals combined.
A YouGov poll found 47 per cent of the public think Boris Johnson can defeat Labour and Nigel Farage - while just 22 per cent think he would lose
Mr Johnson fuelled rumours of an early ballot by telling a hustings event he would 'get Brexit done and get ready for an election. He is pictured arriving at the event in London yesterday
However, the other candidates are insisting they will not be withdrawing to give him a clear run.
He is also facing mounting criticism over his reluctance to face media scrutiny amid concerns among his aides he could throw away his seemingly unassailable lead.
He has snubbed the first television debate being staged tonight by Channel 4 - with the broadcaster saying they will 'empty chair' him.
But Mr Johnson has indicated he will participate in a BBC debate on Tuesday when the number of contenders will have been further whittled down.
Asked in the youGov poll for the Sunday Times which of the Tory hopefuls could win an election, Mr Johnson scored considerably ahead of Jeremy Hunt, his successor at the Foreign Office.
Just 15 per cent thought he could win, with Sajid Javid on 14 per cent.
Mr Gove was even further back on 12 per cent and Dominic Raab and Rory Stewart were on 8 per cent.
Mr Johnson also topped the ranking on who would do handle Brexit best.
Some 27 per cent said he would do a good job, Mr Raab and Mr Hunt rated at 10 per cent and Mr Gove and Mr Javid 9 per cent.
But Johnson is also
