Nick Xenophon Team candidate Rod Bloomfield said yesterday he knew Labor’s Jess Jennings had been considering a preference deal but had to knock him back, despite sharing Dr Jennings’ goal of making Calare a marginal electorate.

Mr Bloomfield said his political mentor, former independent Calare MP Peter Andren, had always advised him against doing preference deals.

“He believed voters were bright enough to vote however they wanted after giving their number one,” Mr Bloomfield said.

“I think I’m a realistic chance of challenging Labor on primary votes and then preferences may well put me in a position where I’m able to make Calare marginal.”

Mr Bloomfield said he had been well received by the electorate during campaigning in recent weeks and warned the Nationals’ candidate Andrew Gee that if he thought victory on July 2 was a fait accompli, then he might be in for a shock.

Dr Jennings, who preferenced Mr Bloomfield number two on his how-to-vote cards, said he was aware of the NXT’s “no preferences” policy but he agreed that making Calare a marginal electorate was an important goal.

“I also wanted to make it clear that there’s quite a distinction between The Greens and Labor, so that’s why I wanted to put Delanie Sky further down [number three], Dr Jennings said.

Mr Gee, whose how-to-vote cards rank fringe candidate Glen Davis [Liberal Democrats] at number two, said policy played no part in his decision.

“I didn’t speak to the Christian Democrats or any other candidate or party when deciding on our preference distribution,” he said.

“Our distribution was based upon the simplest and easiest way to vote for The Nationals in view of the order the candidates’ names were drawn out of the barrel.

“At the end of the day it’s up to individual voters as to how they distribute preferences.”