‘I’m nobody’s chump’: Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart tries to pull out of race two weeks before election

Less than two weeks before voters hit the booths, a Trumpet of Patriots candidate has been told he is not allowed to bail on the election after an odd move from Clive Palmer.

A Trumpet of Patriots candidate has pulled out less than two weeks before the election after being "blindsided" by Clive Palmer’s decision to preference the local Teal candidate second. Picture: Supplied

A Trumpet of Patriots candidate has pulled the plug on his campaign less than two weeks before the election after being “blindsided” by Clive Palmer’s decision to preference the local Teal candidate second.

Jason Smart sensationally asked voters to “put me last” at the ballot box in the Victorian seat of Flinders over the preferencing row, which kicked off over the weekend when the billionaire-backed fringe party revealed they would preference the Liberal and Labor parties last.

Mr Smart cannot officially withdraw his candidacy under Australian Electoral Commission rules.

A small business owner and father of two, Mr Smart described the move by the party to preference Teal Independent candidate Ben Smith second on his how-to-vote card “shocking and sinister”.

Jason Smart sensationally withdrew his candidacy for the Victorian seat of Flinders on Monday over the preferencing row. Picture: Getty

“My wife and I have been sitting here at home in utter disbelief since Friday morning,” Mr Smart said.

“I was given an undertaking by Clive Palmer and the Trumpet of Patriots that if I ran as a candidate for them, that the Teal / Labor / Greens candidates would be last on the HTV card.

“I only agreed to run on that basis.”

Mr Smart said that he had amassed support from constituents on the basis of putting Mr Smith last on his ballot paper, with fuming locals flooding his inbox with angry messages over the how-to-vote card.

The seat, which is currently held by Liberal MP Zoe McKenzie, is located on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

Mr Palmer revealed they would preference the Liberal and Labor parties last. Picture: Getty

Mr Smart said he would now be assisting One Nation candidate Mike Brown, who has preferenced Ms McKenzie second, with his campaign.

“We’ve seen the devastating effect that people like Monique Ryan, Allegra Spender and Zoe Daniel have had on our country in recent years,” he said.

“If Clive Palmer thinks I’m going to put my love for my country to the side so he can try and gain some political relevance, he’s dead wrong.”

“I’m nobody’s chump.”

Originally published as ‘I’m nobody’s chump’: Trumpet of Patriots candidate Jason Smart tries to pull out of race two weeks before election