Swatantra, I agree understand what you mean by Balls' media perormance improving, but is that good enough? Won't we need someone who's more of a natural communicator?

Alan Johnson is in an enormously strong position now for the leadership, given Harriet Harman's difficulties. And there is something attractive about a working class Londoner becoming Prime Minister. (though is suppose that would describe John Major too)

Harman's so damaged she couldn't go for it, though there is obviously support for the "woman" campaign that she used for the deputy leadership. While I detested her use of the gender card for the deputyship, it make ar mor sense for the leadership, because it is a position with some power. I though arguing for a woman deputy was just a fig leaf covering the lack of equal opportunities for the leadership.

Given the likely strong support available for a good woman candidate, my money would be on Jacqui Smith, whose performance as Home Secretary has been outstanding. In fact, there are days when she already looks like a PM.

David Miliband seems to be suffering from being talked about too much for too long. I was particularly annoyed by the Spectator piece attacking Malloch Brown and the subsequent references in the national press saying "sources close to Miliband say the Spectator piece was spot on". Labour ministers briefing against other Labour ministers irritates me no end.

Most worrying of all is the continued positioning of John Cruddas, whose deputy leadership bid always struck me as the first round of a leadership tilt. What scares me is that has no politics beyond what it will take to achieve power. At least the Blairites (of which he was once one) had some ideology, as did those campaigning for John McDonnell. Cruddas has just adopted a stance because there is a section of the party with a leadership vacuum. If he ever became leader we would be a party in opposition for a very long time.

Of all the possibilities, I would go with Jacqui Smith.