Former human rights commissioner Tim Wilson has been branded a "danger" to families in a smear pamphlet released as he seeks Liberal preselection in the Victorian seat of Goldstein.

Key points: Pamphlet says openly gay candidate Tim Wilson is a "danger to families"

Pamphlet says openly gay candidate Tim Wilson is a "danger to families" Other candidates include Alexander Downer's daughter and a former aid worker

Other candidates include Alexander Downer's daughter and a former aid worker Seat is seen as a Liberal prize and precursor to high office

Mr Wilson is up against Alexander Downer's daughter Georgina and former aid worker Dr Denis Dragovic in the battle to win preselection in the blue-ribbon electorate, one of only four seats that has been consistently held by the Liberals since Federation.

A four-page pamphlet emphasising Mr Wilson's support for gay marriage, same-sex adoption and the Safe Schools anti-bullying program was sent to all preselectors in the Melbourne seat on Thursday.

"Tim is a danger to our families, schools and the local community," it reads.

"Tim's homosexuality is not the problem. It is his unrelenting campaign for gay rights issues and waste of taxpayers' money."

Former human rights commissioner Tim Wilson ( Supplied: IPA )

The pamphlet was sent by "Alex Jones" from the "Bayside Community Coalition".

Liberal insiders say both the organisation and the person appear to be fake.

It is a last-minute twist to what was already a hotly contested fight for that rare prize in politics — a secure job and a very high chance at sitting at the Cabinet table.

The battle for Goldstein has attracted what Liberal Party members have called a very impressive field.

"What's interesting about this field is it's not large in number, but the quality of the candidates is very high, different and they're all reasonably young," former Victorian premier and party heavyweight Jeff Kennett told 7.30.

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Downer: Establishment favourite with party pedigree

Alexander Downer's daughter, Georgina Downer, is in the preselection race to take Andrew Robb's seat in the Goldstein electorate. ( Facebook )

The top three contenders are Mr Wilson, Ms Downer, and Dr Dragovic.

Ms Downer is the Liberal establishment favourite, backed by Victorian Liberal party president Michael Kroger, Andrew Robb and Mr Kennett.

"Georgina Downer is someone I've given a reference to and have supported," Mr Robb confirmed to 7.30.

However, 7.30 understand that in the last two weeks her local support has ebbed away.

Phone calls from the former foreign minister Alexander Downer to delegates have often fallen flat, with resentment from local preselectors to the idea of an establishment pick being foisted upon them.

Ms Downer might also have been expected to appeal to a party that says it wants to get more frontline female politicians.

However, recent by-elections in Victoria (for Dunkley and the Senate vacancy left be the departing Michael Ronaldson) have seen highly qualified women lose out to less experienced men.

Now it appears the two front runners are Mr Wilson and Dr Dragovic.

As a former member of the conservative think tank the Institute for Public Affairs, and then human rights commissioner, Mr Wilson enjoys the support of many Canberra politicians.

His campaign pamphlet features endorsements from both Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and former PM Tony Abbott.

Victorian Senator Scott Ryan, a key power-broker in the state, has been making calls on Mr Wilson's behalf.

Political scientist Nick Economou said Mr Wilson's views were already widely known.

"He does hold quite firm views on a range of social issues," Dr Economou said.

"He's also very much a person who likes to project the idea that he's a defender of free speech. So, on social issues he is quite progressive, and considered to be a rising star inside the Liberal Party."

But as the dirt sheet shows, those views may not sit well with the local members.

Dragovic: Social conservative with local connections

Dr Denis Dragovic is running for preselection in the safe Liberal seat of Goldstein. ( LinkedIn )

Dr Dragovic is portraying himself as the David to the Goliaths of the Liberal establishment, as is believed to have been building momentum over the past few weeks.

A social conservative, Dr Dragovic worked overseas as an aid worker for 10 years in Sudan and Iraq before returning to Australia to work as an academic and continue in the non-governmental sector.

As the son of Yugoslavian immigrants, with international experience and a conservative outlook, Dr Dragovic ticks many boxes in a party looking to broaden the experience base of its elected representatives.

"Denis Dragovic is the interesting one," Dr Economou told 7.30.

"He's considered to be an expert on terrorism, counter-terrorism, which is very much de rigueur in the policy debate at the moment."

With no high-profile endorsements, he has been relying on a strong local profile built over years as an active member of the local branch — something that goes down well with parochial preselectors.

Mr Wilson also has strong links to the local area but Ms Downer has never lived in the electorate.

How the last minute smear campaign against Mr Wilson will play out is unknown.

If no candidate secures the required 50 per cent in the first round of voting, which is unlikely, it will go to rounds of voting with the person with the least votes dropping out.

Should Ms Downer drop out, where her powerbroker backers direct her supporters may well decide the outcome.

Whoever wins, the expectations of them will be high.

"I think they'll all be wanting to make sure this new person that they anoint will be a senior minister in a future government and even maybe more senior than a senior minister," Mr Kennett said.

"So we're looking for leadership from this preselection."