Independent senator Nick Xenophon has dismissed "nasty" campaigns against his party's federal candidates following reports Christopher Pyne pressured a broadcaster to help him stop one political hopeful in Adelaide.

The Australian today reported Mr Pyne sent a series of text messages to Adelaide radio host Leon Byner, urging him to stop Senator Xenophon from standing a candidate in the seat of Sturt at the next election.

Mr Pyne, who has held the seat of Sturt since 1993, reportedly texted Mr Byner asking him to "please help him and me by convincing him to leave me alone".

Senator Xenophon said he was bemused by the reports, stating that he has a "very civil relationship" with Mr Pyne.

He told the ABC the Liberals had a "very large war chest" to fund their campaign.

"We don't have so much a shoestring budget as a dental floss budget to run against him," Senator Xenophon said.

"We'll give it our best shot, but Christopher already knows that it will be a campaign about issues, about jobs... From our point of view, we're going to be incredibly positive and polite in putting our argument forward.

"If others want to get personal and get nasty, I think the electorate will judge those candidates accordingly."

Mr Pyne told The Australian there was nothing improper about his messages to Mr Byner.