ORANGE Independent Helen Haines used the official start of the election campaign on Thursday to appeal for $50,000 in donations.
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The social media callout from the Indi candidate was aimed at generating cash for media spending.
"The Libs and the Nats are throwing lots of money at us, so we need to be able to counter that with some television ads and it's television ads that are so expensive," Dr Haines said.
"The television ads and the newspaper ads are an adjunct to people-to-people, community-to-community, door-to-door action," Dr Haines said.
"Our strength is our people, we don't need a busload of young Nats or Libs to help us."
Sportsbet has Dr Haines a $1.80 favourite to win on May 18, with the Coalition at $2 without differentiating between Liberal and National party candidates.
Dr Haines said she did not feel like the favourite before adding "I don't mind a little gamble".
Liberal shot Steve Martin said he was not a bookmaker.
"Predicting what's going to happen or second guessing doesn't help my cause or other people's," Mr Martin said.
"There's a fair bit of positivity about what the government is doing and a receptive ear to me and what I can do."
Mr Martin hopes to have at least one minister per week visiting Indi to support him.
Labor candidate Eric Kerr conceded he was unlikely to attract shadow ministers to the region.
"I don't think I will have a slew of shadows to aid me, it will be just me but I'm quite happy with that," he said.
It is Mr Kerr's second consecutive tilt at Indi and he is hoping to land up to 12 per cent of the vote to improve on his 9.79 per cent showing in 2016.
Nationals candidate Mark Byatt said he expected the election will be a fierce contest as contenders vie to replace Ms McGowan.
"Cathy McGowan's decision not to contest has provided us with a three-cornered contest and a real choice for the 18th of May," he said.
"I think we're coming from a little way back but I think we're as good as anyone in the contest.
"We're working every day and every hour to position ourselves as a real option for Indi."
Mr Byatt said issues raised with him included young tradies and apprentices concerned with job security, the need for more aged care packages and rural roads.
He would live federal assistance grants for councils to return to one per cent of Commonwealth revenue rather than the existing .55 per cent.