Clive Palmer says his party's preferences handed Tony Abbott victory. Source: AAP
CLIVE Palmer already sees himself as a kingmaker, poised to win himself a seat in the lower house and claiming Tony Abbott would not have won the federal election without his help.
The eccentric entrepreneur stands a strong chance of winning the Queensland Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax on preferences, which would make him Australia's richest federal MP.
With his party's star Queensland Senate candidate, rugby league great Glenn Lazarus, also on track for a win, Mr Palmer expects to be a political kingmaker in Canberra.
The Palmer United Party leader said his group's strong primary vote had helped deliver victory for the coalition in a number of seats.
"We had six per cent and we preferenced the Liberal Party. The swing against Labor was 4.5 per cent," Mr Palmer told AAP.
"Without Palmer United's preferences, Tony Abbott would not be prime minister."
He also predicts his party will win up to three seats in the lower house and another three Senate spots, possibly giving them a share in the balance of power from July next year.
Palmer preferences could also decide knife-edge seats in Queensland.
Just 600 votes separate the two major parties in the Labor-held northern Brisbane seat of Petrie, and the Liberal National Party's Luke Howarth is hopeful Palmer preferences will help him beat incumbent Yvette D'Ath.
In Rockhampton-centred Capricornia, LNP candidate Michelle Landry says she had underestimated the popularity of Mr Palmer.
"They were more voting for Clive than anything else. They certainly weren't voting for the candidate," she told AAP.
Mr Palmer believes his party will win the Sunshine Coast seat of Fisher, which former Howard government minister Mal Brough is confident he's bagged for the coalition.
He also claims Senate candidate Jacqui Lambie will win a spot in Tasmania, as will Dio Wang in Western Australia.
And he says his party has a chance in the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay-based seat of Hinkler.
Mr Palmer said that like Mr Abbott, he would have some sway over any Palmer party candidates elected to the Senate.
"Well I am the parliamentary leader of the party, just like Tony Abbott is the leader of his party, and my relationship will be similar to his relationship with his senators," Mr Palmer said.
The Palmer party, formed four months ago, had outpolled the century-old Nationals, said Mr Palmer, who once worked as a media adviser for the late Queensland premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
Peter Beattie, another former Sunshine State premier and failed Labor candidate for Forde, said Mr Palmer was sure to shake up parliament.
"No one will be able to ignore Clive," he said.
"If Clive has got the balance of power (in the Senate), all I've got to say to all of you is you're gonna have to say a big prayer. But you're going to have a lot of fun."
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