Singer Darryl Lovegrove pulls out of race to take on Tony Abbott in Warringah
A second independent in a week has dropped out of the race to take on Tony Abbott and has instead pledged his support to Olympian Zali Steggall.
Manly
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- Tony Abbott fires back at Warringah challenges
- Steggall: ‘I won’t make empty promises’ in Abbott battle
A second independent candidate has dropped out of the race to take on Tony Abbott and has instead pledged his support to Olympian Zali Steggall.
Singer Darryl Lovegrove, who announced he was standing last month, has today pulled out of the race for Warringah.
He has backed former world champion skier Zali Steggall, stating she has the best chance of toppling Abbott.
“If it came to election night and Tony Abbott won because of me I don’t think I would be able to live with that,” he said.
It comes just days after former Malcolm Turnbull staffer Alice Thompson also pulled out of the race to make way for Ms Steggall.
She has opted to take on Jason Falinski in Mackellar.
A number of independents had lined up over recent weeks to take on Mr Abbott.
However, many believed this would strengthen the former Prime Minister’s position as the independent vote would be split between multiple candidates.
Mr Lovegrove said his number one priority was defeating Tony Abbott.
“I think Zali is a great candidate. I went to her launch and saw the groundswell of support she had. Then I looked at her policies and saw they are pretty much the same as mine.”
He added: “She has a very impressive background. She’s a barrister, a mum of five and we haven’t even started on the Olympics.”
Ms Steggall said Mr Lovegrove’s announcement had strengthened her position.
“It simplifies the choice for the people of Warringah.
“They have a clear choice: Do you want the same person to represent you or do you want change.”
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