Barnaby Joyce has admitted a "misstep" in describing himself as the elected deputy prime minister, retreating from a potential challenge to Nationals leader Michael McCormack.
Earlier this week Mr Joyce fuelled leadership tensions by declaring he would put his hat in the ring to return to the top job in the event of a leadership spill.
But on Wednesday he backed away from his comments, downplaying them as "stating the bleeding obvious" because a host of candidates would nominate if the position was vacant.
"We are going to go to this election with Michael McCormack and with Scott Morrison, and I hope we do everything we can to get them federally elected," Mr Joyce told Nine's Today on Wednesday.
He said he would continue to push for government investment in a coal-fired power station, but insisted he was behind Mr McCormack and the prime minister.
"I want to make sure we win the election. I've done it before," the former Nationals leader said.
"I want to make sure that they win the election, because it's in our interests. Otherwise you're going to get a Green, Labor, independent government."
Mr McCormack agreed that Mr Joyce had made a misstep.
"Barnaby has withdrawn his remark that he made earlier in the week," Mr McCormack told reporters in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday.
"The fact is, we're getting on, we're focused with what people want us to be focused on."
Senior Nationals rebuked Mr Joyce for fuelling leadership chatter this week, with the party's deputy leader Bridget McKenzie leading the charge on Tuesday.
But Mr Joyce wasn't fazed after Ms McKenzie expressed frustration he had dragged the party into another public discussion about itself.
"I know how politics works. The political pile-on is always part of it," he said.
Resources Minister Matt Canavan flatly dismissed Mr Joyce's claim he remained "the elected deputy prime minister of Australia".
"The deputy prime minister is Michael McCormack. He is doing a fantastic job," Senator Canavan told ABC Radio National.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has enthusiastically embraced his own nickname ScoMo, on Tuesday referred to his deputy as "Big Mac".
Mr McCormack is happy with the new tag, lauding it as "McHappy Day".
"ScoMo called me Big Mac. That's fine, that's fine. I'm a big man with a big job to do," he said.
