Former Prime Minister John Howard has taken aim at independent Senator Nick Xenophon during a mission to shore up Liberal votes in key seats in South Australia.
Mr Howard has campaigned with government MP Jamie Briggs in an attempt to ward off a swing towards the Nick Xenophon Team in the Adelaide Hills seat of Mayo and is expected to do the same for Matt Williams in Hindmarsh on Wednesday.
The former leader questioned what Senator Xenophon stood for, saying he needed to come clean about his party allegiances if he wanted to move beyond single-issue politics.
"It's fine if you're an independent to be all things to all people," Mr Howard told reporters in Strathalbyn, southeast of Adelaide.
"But if the Xenophon party aspires to win seats in the lower house, they're aspiring to have some kind of balance of power situation. Well that means you've got to declare yourself."
Senator Xenophon welcomed the former leader's focus on him, saying it meant the Liberal Party was worried.
"I'm quite flattered that John Howard has come out swinging this way because it shows you how panicked the local member is," he said.
NXT Mayo candidate Rebekha Sharkie, who previously worked for Mr Briggs, now hopes to put her former boss out of a job, and Senator Xenophon said Mr Howard's presence only gave her campaign more oxygen.
The seat isn't marginal but Mr Briggs' reputation has taken a significant hit since he quit the ministry over misconduct allegations in a Hong Kong bar last year.
Senator Xenophon said it was "a bit rich" for Mr Howard to try and force his hand over a hypothetical election outcome.
"To announce what we will do when we don't know the make-up of the next parliament would be irresponsible," he said.
Mr Howard said while the political maverick could be successful in the Senate, the NXT didn't have a chance in the lower house.
"I don't believe he will (get any lower house seats). His aspiration is to. That's not my expectation," he said.
Senator Xenophon remains hopeful of winning seats but has played down his chances of holding the balance of power after the July 2 election.
