Bill Glasson is to run again for the Liberal National Party in the Brisbane seat of Griffith. Source: AAP
FORMER Australian Medical Association president Bill Glasson hopes his direct line to good friend Tony Abbott will win over enough voters to finally clinch the seat held by Kevin Rudd for 15 years.
The ophthalmologist will have a second crack at Griffith, after narrowly losing to Mr Rudd in September and will stand for preselection for the Liberal National Party in the upcoming by by-election.
Reducing the cost of living and financial burdens on small business are key election pledges and his close friendship with Mr Abbott will be a major asset.
The two spoke on Thursday, when Mr Abbott offered his full support.
"I will go down there with a strong voice and as I know Mr Abbott, the prime minister, very well, obviously I think I can influence policy to make life and the cost of living in Brisbane easier and make the cost of doing business easier as well," he said.
The prime minister shot out a statement supporting Dr Glasson just 40 minutes after the announcement.
He urged the LNP in Queensland to finalise the preselection process as soon as possible.
"Bill Glasson will be a strong local voice for the people of Griffith in Canberra," Mr Abbott said.
"He has dedicated himself to representing the people of Griffith with the same enthusiasm, zeal and commitment that he has brought to his distinguished medical career."
Mr Rudd announced on Wednesday he'd resign from politics, less than 100 days after the federal election.
The first possible date for a by-election is December 21 but it is most likely to be held early next year.
Dr Glasson says Mr Rudd broke a promise to serve a full term and has treated voters with a degree of contempt.
"My suggestion is that the people of Griffith have had enough and they want the by-election out of the road as quickly as possible," he said.
Griffith has long been one of Labor's safer seats but Dr Glasson's grassroots campaigning before September saw him beat Mr Rudd before preferences were dished out.
He attracted a 5.5 per cent swing, reducing Mr Rudd's winning margin to three per cent.
The by-election will be a revealing snapshot of the mood of Queensland voters after several months of the Abbott government.
The odds however are again stacked against Dr Glasson.
Only once has a federal government gained a seat from an opposition at a by-election and that was the Kalgoorlie by-election in 1920.
"This is going to be tough, history will tell you that," he said.
Labor is yet to announce who their candidate will be. However employment and IR lawyer Terri Butler has emerged as the front runner.
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