Vickie Chapman firms as Liberas' deputy leader OPPOSITION water spokeswoman Vickie Chapman is firming as the frontrunner in the race for the Liberal deputy leader's post. The Sunday Mail understands she has about six solid votes from the moderate bloc and needs just four more to win election to the post. Ms Chapman's backers are confident she already has at least 10 votes. Possible contender Martin Hamilton-Smith is factionally unaligned and would need a combination of independent and conservative backing to become Liberal deputy leader. He is understood to have as few as two personal votes, including his own. However, there are about seven unaligned MPs who could form a broader support base in the push. The conservative group includes about five Lower House Liberals. It was opposed to Mr Hamilton-Smith's October challenge for the leadership. One Liberal source supporting the Hamilton-Smith option said relying on a highly-factional deputy - either Ms Chapman or Opposition treasury spokesman Iain Evans - would stifle the party's bid for clear air. "The great advantage of Steven (Marshall) is that he is seen as a cleanskin," the Liberal source said. If there's someone behind him from one of the Evans or Chapman families, it looks like the party hasn't moved on and made a clean break. A Liberal source supporting Ms Chapman said pairing her with Mr Marshall would bring a gender and regional balance to the leadership duo. Ms Chapman represents Adelaide's eastern suburbs but has roots in Kangaroo Island. Mr Marshall is from trendy inner-city Norwood. Mr Evans is seen to have little support but Liberal sources are yet to count out his candidacy. Opposition police spokesman Dan van Holst Pellekaan's possible candidacy is losing support as Liberals question the merit of having two first-term MPs in the leadership group.