A former Liberal candidate dumped for a series of anti-Islamic posts insists she can still win the Tasmanian seat of Lyons as an independent.
Jessica Whelan also denies she lied to the Liberal party about an offensive post attributed to her being doctored, and says she still has no idea where it came from.
She believes she can win the race to defeat sitting Labor MP Brian Mitchell, who has a notional margin of 3.8 per cent.
"The internal polling that we had conducted suggested that the polls were extremely tight and suggested I was in a position where I could win the seat," Ms Whelan told LAFM radio in Launceston on Monday.
"I think despite what's happened I can still win the seat of Lyons as an independent."
Ms Whelan resigned from the Liberals last week after a series of anti-Muslim Facebook comments were unearthed, but she maintains a particularly graphic one was digitally altered and she didn't say it.
"Round them up Donald, cut their clitoris' off & sell them to Muslims in Muslim countries & cancel their passports. You'll make a mint," the post stated.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had been lied to about the original post, but Ms Whelan said she didn't speak to him about it and maintains it wasn't her.
"Did I lie to the PM? No I didn't," she said.
Ms Whelan apologised again for her anti-Muslim posts, but she said she is very passionate about "border security".
"Two or three years ago I had made some anti-Islamic posts, I will admit to that," she said.
"I'm not an extremist, I just have very strong views."
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