Liberal candidate Georgina Downer should be judged on her merits rather than her family's connection with the Adelaide Hills electorate of Mayo in the upcoming federal by-election, a senior party figure says.
Ms Downer will be up against Rebekha Sharkie, who won the seat in 2016 as part of the Nick Xenophon Team, but was last week forced to quit after being caught up in the dual-citizenship saga.
Ms Sharkie is facing an uphill battle to regain the seat with Ms Downer seeking to follow in the footsteps of her father, Alexander, who held Mayo from 1984 to 2008.
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham described Ms Downer as a smart and capable young woman.
"I'm confident that voters of Mayo will judge Georgina Downer on her merits," he said.
"(Her election) would give the people of Mayo and South Australia an additional, powerful voice inside the Turnbull government."
But the minister also acknowledged Ms Downer was up against a political precedent dating almost 100 years.
"Winning by-elections whilst in government is something that, essentially, is unheard of in Australia," he said.
"It's only once, back in 1920, that a government of the day has snatched a by-election from an opposition."
Meanwhile, Ms Sharkie said on Tuesday Nick Xenophon was unlikely to play a starring role in her campaign.
Mr Xenophon quit the Senate to make an ultimately unsuccessful tilt at South Australian state politics.
She said Mr Xenophon was busy rebuilding his life - caring for elderly parents and restarting his legal practice.
"If Nick wants to come up and help he knows where my tiny little campaign office is," Ms Sharkie told reporters in Adelaide on Tuesday.
"I think I've already asked enough of Nick over the years, I think it's time for him to take care of himself."
