Liberal Democrat leadership hopeful Nick Clegg said he has the skills to boost the party's vote in Sussex.

Mr Clegg, the party's home affairs spokesman, said he was confident that, if elected leader, he could appeal to voters in the "rural and suburban south" - including Sussex - despite representing the northern seat of Sheffield Hallam.

The Lib Dems have made little inroads in Sussex when it comes to Parliamentary seats, with Lewes MP Norman Baker the party's sole representative in the Commons.

But Mr Clegg, whose campaign is supported by Mr Baker, said the electoral success of Lib Dem-led Eastbourne Borough Council was proof that "despite some setbacks in specific areas of the South East in the May local elections, we are going from strength to strength".

He added: "Where we are governing at local level we can can make a difference."

The MP said he wanted to go further than Prime Minister Gordon Brown's house building plans and provide 3.3 million new homes across England over the next 20 years.

He said: "We do need to increase supply in the South East. I know it's not always going to be easy but housing is under enormous pressure and we need affordable homes, otherwise the people who staff public services won't be able to live in the area they work."

The contender said his campaign "seems to be going pretty well", with his own telephone canvassing indicating he was leading rival Chris Huhne by 60 to 40 per cent.

But he said: "There are still several weeks to go, and I will be travelling the country every day."

Mr Clegg insisted he and Mr Huhne "worked well together" and promised his opponent a "top table position" on the party's front bench if he won.

The pledge followed the controversial publication by Mr Huhne's campaign of a media briefing document entitled "Calamity Clegg".

Mr Huhne swiftly issued an apology and insisted the title of the document had been added without his knowledge.