He claims to be the underdog, but as one of Queensland's most popular premiers, Peter Beattie has the best chance of winning the marginal seat of Forde and turning around Labor's fortunes in the Sunshine State.
After several days of cajoling, Mr Beattie has agreed to run in the Liberal-held seat south of Brisbane.
With Labor's preselected candidate elbowed out, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd steamrolled into town with a huge media pack on Thursday to announce humble Peter was "here to help".
The fact that Labor holds only seven of the 89 seats in Queensland's parliament - and eight of the 30 federal electorates - lured Mr Beattie back to politics after a six year hiatus.
Political analyst Scott Prasser says handpicking one of the state's "favoured sons" will do well in the Queensland psyche.
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The pair could be portrayed as home-grown heroes, on a crusade against the coalition, he said.
"It's going to initially bolster the Labor cause in Forde," he said.
"But the fact the PM flew back today to have the press conference, indicates it's going to be played into the Queensland psyche.
"He's going to tag one of Queensland's most successful premiers and favoured sons ... and say, `Queensland supports me, I've got momentum here. He is willing to join me in my crusade to save Australia from Tony Abbott'."
He may be a favoured son, but Beattie not only doesn't live in Forde, he hasn't lived in Australia for several years.
Mr Rudd enticed him back from his home in the US to help the cause, a point that Forde's sitting LNP member Bert Van Manen will play on.
"I wasn't parachuted in. I've grown up in this electorate. I went to school in this electorate. I've had my first job here. Met my wife here," Mr Van Manen told reporters.
Winning four state elections from 1998 put Mr Beattie in the Labor pantheon, alongside Bob Hawke and Neville Wran.
His ambitious program included overhauls in education, juvenile justice, native title, prostitution and industrial relations.
But his last term was marred by calamities - notably the jailing of former Labor MP Merri Rose for blackmail and corruption charges against former minister Gordon Nuttall.
The development prompted Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney to joke that former disgraced Labor MPs might also be inspired to help Mr Rudd.
"D'Arcy, and Gordon Nuttall, they are applying for day leave to hand out how to vote cards," he said.
Treasurer Tim Nicholls said dusting off Mr Beattie was a mark of desperation.
"They've propped him up in a corner sort of like Weekend At Bernie's," he said, referencing the film that involves two men trying to convince people their dead boss is still alive.
It's true that Mr Beattie isn't a fresh face, but it is too early to tell if Forde will reject him as wholeheartedly as old Labor.
