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Anthony Albanese likely to be Labor leader after Chris Bowen withdraws

Anthony Albanese could soon be elected unopposed as the new Labor leader after contender Chris Bowen pulled out of the race.

But Queenslander Jim Chalmers is still considering whether to throw his hat in the ring.

Mr Bowen withdrew on Wednesday afternoon once it became clear Mr Albanese was streets ahead in their two-way contest to replace Bill Shorten.

The shadow treasurer insists he would have secured support from the majority of the Labor caucus, but concedes Mr Albanese would have won a vote of rank and file members "by a good margin".

Anthony Albanese will be likely to become the new Labor leader after Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen pulled out of the race. Source: AAP
Anthony Albanese will likely be the Labor leader after Chris Bowen withdrew from the race. Source: AAP

"I have reached the view that it would be unlikely for me to win the ballot," Mr Bowen told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

"So earlier today, I reached the conclusion that not thinking it's really viable for me to win, it wouldn't be fair to put the party through the cost, the process and the delay for the start of a new leader."

Mr Bowen's withdrawal opened the door to another contender such as Mr Chalmers, who is also from the party's right, against the frontrunner from its left.

"I also wanted to make this decision early because nominations have not yet closed," he said.

"I want to provide anybody else with the opportunity to feel that they have something to add – who might not be in the ballot because I am – to get into the ballot."

MP for Rankin Mr Chalmers is expected to announce his intentions about whether or not he will run against Mr Albanese on Thursday.

“I feel for Chris & I know it would’ve been hard for him to pull out,” Mr Chalmers tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.

“I’m being encouraged to nominate for leader & I’ll now consider my options overnight.”

Anthony Chisholm, who is also from the Queensland right, has spoken to Mr Chalmers about the leadership contest.

"There is time for Jim to have a think about it and decide whether he wants to put his name forward," he told ABC News.

"If there was to be a contest I'm confident it would be done in the right spirits and one that Labor Party members would embrace."

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