Simon Cowell has said 'X Factor' winner Joe McElderry does not deserve to be "stuck in the middle" of a fight for the Christmas number one single.
A campaign is underway to try and encourage people to buy Rage Against The Machine's 'Killing In The Name' in an effort to break the television talent show's run of festive number ones.
McElderry's debut single 'The Climb' is now neck-and-neck with the band for Sunday's number one spot.
Read our 'X Factor' Blog and comment here.
Speaking to the Mirror the 'X Factor' judge said: "Joe doesn't deserve to be stuck in the middle of this. A campaign aimed at harming his chart position is unnecessary."
His comments come after McElderry's mentor Cheryl Cole criticised the "mean campaign".
Cole continued: "I would be devastated to see Joe lose possibly the best thing that could happen to him in his life. Every aspiring pop star dreams of a number one record.
"It is a beautiful song. He put his heart and soul into every single week of The X Factor and I cannot bear to see him lose out to a mean campaign that has nothing to do with his efforts.
"If that song, or should I say campaign, by an American group is our Christmas number one I'll be gutted for him and our charts."
Despite predictions that McElderry would storm ahead when his CD went on sale on Wednesday, the rap-metal act were still in front last night. The Climb had been available as a download since Monday, the day after McElderry's victory over Olly Murs.
