May also met backbench colleagues to sound them out about the next steps, including the former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who is widely regarded as the potential frontrunner in a leadership contest should the prime minister step aside.
And, as a crowded field gets more crowded with the campaign announcement from potential frontrunner Lisa Raitt expected within weeks Leitch might need to broaden her appeal.
A former Speaker of the Commons, Baroness Boothroyd, has told the BBC the potential frontrunner to take up the role of Commons Clerk is "totally out of her depth".
Ex-Speaker unhappy with clerk candidate Jump to media player A former Speaker of the Commons, Baroness Boothroyd, has told the BBC the potential frontrunner to take up the role of Commons Clerk is "completely out of her depth".
This assumes that an 'anybody but' campaign does not emerge where all the other contenders but one or two drop out to allow an establishment candidate (read: Rubio) to go head to head against the more abrasive potential frontrunner (Trump or Cruz).
Consistency is crucial across the board and also the shortcoming of so many other potential frontrunners as well.
There is some outside support for "Bridesmaids," the smash-hit Kristen Wiig vehicle, to get nominated this year, while the Christopher Plummer-starring dramedy, "Beginners," and the George Clooney-leDescendantsnts" are considered potential frontrunners for golden consideration.
Craig McKenzie, brother of former Sun editor Kelvin, who edits the regional editions of the Mirror, is talked of as a potential replacement, but the frontrunner is the boss of the Record's sister publication, the Sunday Mail.
The announcement marked a major shift in the presidential race, removing a potential threat to Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton, who had been polling ahead of a hypothetical Biden candidacy but who was sure to lose support should the vice-president jump in.
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, the presumptive GOP frontrunner, warns of a potential "bloodbath" and candidly admits to being deeply pessimistic about beating Obama.
