Mike Baird the ‘golden candidate’ needed to beat Zali at federal election: senior Lib

Mike Baird will come under increasing pressure from within Liberal circles to put his name down to win back Warringah for the Coalition. Take our poll. Should he put his hand up?

Speculation is growing within the Liberal Party that former NSW Premier Mike Baird is the target of a concerted push for him to run as the “golden candidate” for federal parliament in the key Coalition seat of Warringah.

Although Mr Baird has so far ruled out a return to politics, party sources say senior Liberals still see him as the best choice to win back the seat from popular independent Zali Steggall at the next election.

Former NSW Premier Mike Baird with his father Bruce Baird and mother Judy outside Queenscliff Surf Life Saving Club to cast his vote at the 2015 state election. (AAP Image/Nikki Short)

The heightened speculation comes as the NSW Liberals opened preselection nominations for 25 federal seats across the state, including marginal and opposition-held electorates. The latest possible election date is just over 12 months away.

Warringah has not yet been included on the list, prompting rumours that its preselection ballot is being held off to allow more time to woo Mr Baird into running.

The rumour mill was also sent into overdrive with the appearance of Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and his wife Jenny, at the funeral of Mr Baird’s mother Judy in Manly on Monday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and wife Jenny leave after the funeral service for Judy Baird on Monday. Picture: Toby Zerna

It has been reported that several weeks ago Mr Morrison hosted Mr Baird and his family to a meal at Kirribilli House where the subject of taking on Ms Steggall was discussed.

Mr Baird has consistently said he does not want to run for federal parliament.

But a senior Liberal figure on the northern beaches said Mr Baird is set to come under increasing pressure from within Liberal circles to run for Warringah with Mr Morrison keen to win back Warringah to help shore up his numbers in the Lower House.

“The chatter around the place is that Baird is still the only one who can take on Steggall and win,” the source said.

“He’s the golden candidate.

“I mean, the Prime Minister was in Manly on Monday. And so was John Howard, the party’s elder statesman. What does that tell you?”

Mike Baird, who is now CEO of HammondCare, which operates Christian palliative and dementia care facilities, has said he is not interested in returning to politics. Picture: Brett Costello

But another senior Liberal Party source said Warringah wasn’t “holding out for a hero in Mike Baird”.

The source said nominations had not been opened in Warringah because branch members “hadn’t established campaign infrastructure”.

“There is no one clear option to contest Warringah because the other possible candidates don’t have the same political clout as Mike Baird,” the senior source said. “If he puts his hands up we would expect everyone else to back off immediately.

“We expect him to have a clear run if he does put his hat in the ring.”

Former Prime Minister John Howard and wife Janette leaving the funeral service for Judy Baird. Picture: Toby Zerna

The Liberal source said, despite Baird publicly refusing the possibility of a run, the “ball was, and still is, in the former Premier’s court”.

“It has already been leaked that Mr Baird had tea with the Prime Minister to discuss contesting the seat, but my understanding is he has no intention to move on it.

“If he has changed his mind, I’ll be keen to know,” he said. “We aren’t holding out for a hero in Mike Baird, because it is up to him and he has already articulated his future.”

Other potential preselection candidates include barrister Jane Buncle; former real estate agent Carolyn Reid, NSW Upper House MP Natalie ward; former adviser to Scott Morrison Sasha Grebe, executive general manager of the Liberal think tank, the Menzies Research Centre, Tim James, young Liberal and Vice President of the Warringah FEC Alex Dore, and Doug Price, another real estate agent.