The moderates in the NSW Liberals are in a fight they never wanted over Katherine Deves

Analysis: With debate over the candidate for Warringah continuing, party divisions pave way for difficult year ahead

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For two weeks, moderates within the New South Wales Liberal party have been asking the same question: why did the prime minister pick lightning rod candidate Katherine Deves in Warringah?

To be crystal clear, no one in the party thought Warringah was winnable. The Liberals went through a laundry list of potential candidates, including two former state premiers - Gladys Berejiklian and Mike Baird - in a bid to find a star to unseat independent Zali Steggall. None of them wanted it.

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