Parkes MP John Cobb's announcement yesterday that he would contest the neighbouring seat of Calare has raised the question of who will fill the space left by his absence.

The Labor Party has not yet announced a candidate for Parkes and no Independents have come forward.

So far there is only one potential Nationals candidate, Gwydir Shire mayor Mark Coulton, who has announced his intention to stand.

Had he stayed in Parkes, Mr Cobb would have faced a preselection challenge from Mr Coulton, but he said neither this, nor any of the other jockeying for position that occurs before a preselection ballot, had impacted on his decision.

"I think I've been around a little too long to be too worried about people putting pressure on me, whether they be from the National Party or anywhere else," he said.

"The only person putting a heap of pressure on me over this was John Cobb."

Mr Coulton said he was pleased to hear Mr Cobb would switch to Calare, not out of relief that he won't have to face an incumbent but because it was the best thing for the National Party.

"He stands a very good chance in Calare and he's the best person for the job," he said.

In the opening shots of his campaign for Calare Mr Cobb took aim at incumbent Independent MP Peter Andren, who he said was ineffectual because he had no position in Government or the Opposition.

Mr Andren fired back by claiming the National Party had lost credibility in rural areas by not taking a strong enough stance on the sale of Telstra and the retention of the single desk wheat export system.

Mr Cobb said it had not been an easy decision to switch seats, but it was one he was certain of.

"After a lot of soul-searching I find there's only one seat that I can stand for and that is Calare," he said.

Mr Cobb said a major factor in his decision was the electoral redistribution earlier this year that dramatically changed the boundaries of his seat.

"I hate the thought of not being the federal member for Dubbo... the new seat of Calare is really the old seat of Parkes with Orange, Cowra, Blayney and Cabonne added to it."

The ongoing drought also played a large part and Mr Cobb expressed a desire to support the farmers in the new seat of Calare, which he said was "the most drought-affected area in the whole of Australia".