Rutte was said to be overshadowed by his own party members Rita Verdonk and Gerrit Zalm, as well as being unable to penetrate between Wouter Bos and Jan Peter Balkenende, who were generally seen as the prime candidates to become the next Prime Minister.
Rutte sades gå bakom ryggen av hans partimedlemmar Rita Verdonk och Gerrit Zalm, samt att han inte lyckades tränga sig in mellan Wouter Bos och Jan Peter Balkenende, som i allmänhet sågs som de två främsta kandidaterna till Nederländernas näste premiärminister.