Despite recent criticism over his policies and his botched conference speech, Ed Miliband's supporters are convinced that he has what it takes and is still on course for victory in 2015.
They point to his principles, his integrity and the fact that David Cameron couldn't beat Gordon Brown and win a majority in 2010. The recent Tory lead in the polls, after four years of Labour being ahead, is a mere post-conference bounce, they confidently claim.
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But are they in denial? Here are seven reasons why the Labour leader might find his path to No. 10 blocked next May.