Rudd's shadow looms large as Griffith candidates hold fire Kevin Rudd shakes hand with residents after voting in the seat of Griffith. A former prime minister leaves some big shoes to fill in any electorate. And it seems both major parties are struggling to shore up their candidates in the days since Kevin Rudd announced he would step down after 15 years as the Member for Griffith. Ophthalmologist Bill Glasson, the former Australian Medical Association president, lost out to Mr Rudd in the September election on preferences, despite out-performing the sitting prime minister 42.22 per cent to 40.36 per cent in the primary vote. Bill Glasson speaks to supporters at his election night party. An impressive grass-roots campaign saw Dr Glasson attract a swing of 5.49 per cent for the Liberal National Party, which shrunk Mr Rudd's winning margin to just 3.01 per cent. Dr Glasson has not returned phone calls since Mr Rudd announced his resignation in Federal Parliament on Wednesday night. LNP state director Brad Henderson said Dr Glasson had not informed the party whether he would run in the Griffith by-election, which is expected to be held some time before March 2014. "He had a terrific ground campaign going on, a wonderful volunteer effort that served to create so much commitment," he said. We'll see what he does, but I've got no doubt that if he throws his hat into the ring again, then those people will come out and support him again and then it's up to the people. Things are no clearer on the Labor side. Labor has not conducted a preselection in Griffith since Mr Rudd became the ALP's candidate and, eventually, MP in 1998. Since then, the make-up of the electorate has changed. Prior to the 2004 federal election, a redistribution saw Griffith extend to the west, taking in the traditional Labor Left heartland of South Brisbane, West End, Woolloongabba and Dutton Park. As such, employment and IR lawyer Terri Butler, is firming as an early favourite to win preselection. However, while she has the support of the Left, she is yet to decide whether she will run. Former Bulimba state MP Di Farmer, who is understood to have the support of Mr Rudd and the Labor Right, is also expected to have a strong showing. Ms Farmer narrowly lost her seat in the 2012 Newman landslide, losing to the LNP's Aaron Dillaway by just 75 votes on a two-party preferred basis, and making Bulimba Queensland's most marginal state electorate. Comment was sought from Ms Farmer, but it is understood she is also undecided about whether to run. The ALP will open its preselection nominations on Monday.