That reopened the battle in Yokohama, with CDT staff counsel Alan Davidson and Common Cause general counsel DonSimon lobbying meeting participants, board members and anyone else who would listen to their pitch to oppose the staff plan.
Treasury spokesman Malcolm Bruce has the backing of three, while Simon Hughes, Don Foster, David Rendel and Jackie Ballard have just two MPs each to act as proposer and seconder.
Almost all of the Lib Dems' 46 MPs, including Mr Ashdown, and many peers crowded into a Commons committee room to hear addresses from the six challengers - Charles Kennedy, SImon Hughes, Jackie Ballard, Don Foster, Malcolm Bruce and David Rendel.