Both candidates will tack to the right in the final round, but I suspect Portillo will be less convincing in his attempts- or more likely, nobody will believe him. The bitter hostility many felt for him was quite astonishing; it will be enough to ensure Clarke is elected by a highly reluctant Conservative party…
Then, the aftermath, Clarke presumably opposes Iraq which changes things quite dramatically and possibly throws the Conservatives a major lifeline during the 2001-5 parliament.