Independent senator Nick Xenophon is buoyed by new polling showing one of his lower house candidates is running second in a Liberal-held South Australian seat.
Senator Xenophon has seen GetUp polling that shows his Mayo candidate Rebecca Sharkey is hitting a "double-digit figure with a two in front of it" despite his party running on a "dental floss budget".
He believes that puts her a strong second and in a "pretty good" position to get across the line with preferences from non-government parties in the July 2 federal election.
"We're doing our best and the fact that Rebecca is doing so well, it's pretty encouraging," he told ABC on Tuesday.
Mayo is safely held by Liberal MP Jamie Briggs, who was forced out of the Turnbull government ministry last year after alleged misconduct at a Hong Kong bar.
Senator Xenophon also called on the government to ditch the so-called backpackers tax, which was delayed by six months on Tuesday and could harm wine producers in South Australia.
"I hope the government, before the election campaign is over, actually gives certainty to the bush and says that this ill-conceived tax is thrown out."
