However in less than a month, Independent Candidate for Gilmore Grant Schultz has found between 150-200 local people willing to help him win at the next election.

Mr Schultz visited dozens of towns and villages, calling on friends and like-minded people shortly after he announced he would run in January.

"Because people are so time poor it can be difficult to get feet on the ground, you need a good reserve of volunteers," Mr Schultz said.

"I don't have the money to bus people in [on election day] like the major parties."

Still at a loss, unable to explain the Liberal Party's logic in dumping him for parachuted candidate Warren Mundine, Mr Schultz said he has been equally heartened by the kindness of local people.

"I'm not confident [I'll win], but it feels good to have so much support," Mr Schultz said.

"People are saying they're angry or annoyed about what happened to me.

"They're reflecting their dissatisfaction with the Liberal and Labor parties. Broadly, the issue is, politics has suffered from a lack of representation of voters. Party candidates are tied to city-centric policies. People want someone who’s a local."

Meanwhile, Labor Candidate Fiona Phillips told the South Coast Register she received an influx of volunteers shortly after the Liberal Party announced its candidate.

Ms Phillips, who already had a strong base of supporters, was surprised by the sudden show of interest from volunteers in late January.

She said they wanted to support a homegrown candidate, and ensure Mr Mundine was not elected.

Liberal Party sources said local party members were warming to Mr Mundine, who would present as "a credible candidate in a naturally conservative seat".

"There were a lot of people who had the shits initially and a few of resignations," one source said.

"It has all settled down, they’re on board now. Once the state election's over, they'll switch and support our federal candidate."

There will be a sizeable convoy of volunteers from other electorates handing out how to vote cards in Gilmore on election day.

"The real issue is, oldies can’t get out anymore, we have 85 year-olds willing to volunteer for a few hours but they can't stand around all day," they said.

"This time more than ever we’ll be hitting up the Young Liberals."