Mr Cleverly is certainly the opponent they want.
Why?
Because “dogs bark, cats meow and the Right wing candidate wins Conservative leadership races with the members” as one member of Team Jenrick puts it.
They fear Kemi Badenoch could beat them, but they reckon they would beat James Cleverly.
As for Team Badenoch, they are talking up the endorsement they have had from former cabinet minister David Davis and another from the Governor of Florida, Ron De Santis.
They believe they articulate a distinctive, original, pugnacious Conservatism that would present the government with the most awkward opposition.
But they too acknowledge privately James Cleverly performed well at conference.
And so here is a question: how might Conservative MPs and the party at large react if Mrs Badenoch, who is loved by plenty of her supporters, fails to make the final pair?
Some of her supporters acknowledge things could be bumpy.
There is, then, plenty at stake – and a crucial few days ahead, which could define what opposition looks like to the government in the years ahead, and help shape how competitive or otherwise the Conservatives are come the next election.
