ALTHOUGH little-known among the public at large, Chris Huhne has quietly moved into second place in the bookmakers’ stakes for the Liberal Democrat leadership race.

Smoothly executed media appearances and a platform of tough environmental taxes have produced a rapid sense of momentum for the Huhne campaign. Ladbrokes quoted odds of 4-7 for Sir Menzies Campbell, the acting leader, last night, with Mr Huhne nudging in as second favourite at 11-4 and Simon Hughes drifting out to 7-2.

At first it appeared that Mr Huhne’s campaign might take votes from Sir Menzies, but there are increasing signs that the radical edge to his environmental plans may cut across Mr Hughes’s appeal.

Supporters of Sir Menzies and Mr Hughes insisted that the contest was still a two-horse race as members beyond the South East still knew little of Mr Huhne.

In fact, there is little recognition of leadership contenders, even in the South East, a survey for The Times suggests.

More people recognise Charles Kennedy, the former Liberal Democrat leader with an admitted drinking problem, than Wayne Rooney, the feisty Manchester United footballer with a liking for night clubs. But both are twice as well known as any of the three candidates, according to an online survey by Populus. Respondents were shown photographs of leading Lib Dems and Rooney and asked to identify them. Many more men than women recognised the politicians.

Mr Kennedy’s top rating of 83 per cent puts him slightly ahead of Rooney on 80 per cent. Next in line are two previous Lib Dem leaders. Lord Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon is on 69 per cent, even though he is occasionally confused with the TV impressionist Rory Bremner, and Lord Steel of Aikwood is correctly identified by 53 per cent, although he is often confused with Lord Owen, the former SDP leader.

Sir Menzies, on 41 per cent — up from 17 per cent last summer — is the best known of the three leadership candidates. Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem president, is named by 34 per cent, and Chris Huhne, sometimes confused with David Cameron, the new Tory leader, is recognised by only 4 per cent. Mark Oaten, who has withdrawn from the leadership contest, is correctly named by 13 per cent.

Vince Cable, the Treasury spokesman, is correctly named by 6 per cent and Nick Clegg and Ed Davey by a mere 2 per cent each. Some confused Mr Davey with the retired England rugby captain Will Carling.

Populus interviewed 570 adults online between January 17 and 24. The results have been weighted to be representative of all adults.

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