An extraordinary groundswell of sympathy for fallen Keira MP David Campbell has emerged in the wake of allegations he visited a gay sex club, as colleagues past and present offer their support.And as revelations of his remarkable double life sink in, Labor figures have expressed hope Mr Campbell will win clemency from the voting public next March.The former frontbencher has indicated he will stay on as the Member for Keira, but questions remain over whether he will tough it out and contest the next election - or indeed, whether the ALP will endorse him.Mr Campbell won the seat with a hefty 22 per cent margin in 2007, but polling in January showed his share of the primary vote had slipped.Prior to last Thursday's revelations, the Liberal Party had singled out the seat as one in which it believed ground could be won.A spokesman for NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell would not comment yesterday on whether party strategists believed the Liberals could capitalise on Mr Campbell's credibility blow.But Liberal South Coast MP Shelley Hancock offered her sympathy from across the political divide, and condemned the media for its sustained focus on the scandal."It's time the media just died down and let David have some peace," Ms Hancock said.Former Wollongong deputy mayor Vicky King, a Labor colleague who served alongside Mr Campbell on the council for 12 years, said the workhorse politician had the resilience to resurrect his career.But his public outing would have caused untold personal pain, she said."David was a strong public figure who really cared about his family and his community - he was always very professional, and very particular about his image," Ms King said."He would be hurting very badly because of what's going on."Craig Kershaw, a long-time Corrimal branch member who has a deep association with the ALP, said Mr Campbell could successfully recontest the seat."His deeds are there for everyone to see, but David is a tireless worker," Mr Kershaw said."I don't think this issue would (damage his chances)."But other veteran ALP members privately expressed concern at the prospect of Mr Campbell standing again, saying it would be the "final nail in the coffin" for disenfranchised Labor voters.Heathcote MP Paul McLeay highlighted Mr Campbell's political achievements, namely the successful introduction of the new public transport fare system MyZone, the free Gong Shuttle and the WIN Stadium upgrade."Mr Campbell has indicated that he will be contesting his seat of Keira (and) as a colleague, friend and fellow Illawarra MP, I support this decision," Mr McLeay said.