QUEENSLAND Labor is pulling out the big guns, with Kevin Rudd hitting the hustings in the crucial Brisbane seat of Ashgrove today.

It will be the former prime minister's first foray into the unofficial state election campaign, which began last week when Premier Anna Bligh announced a March 24 poll date.

Mr Rudd will campaign alongside Ashgrove's Labor MP Kate Jones, who is going head-to-head with Liberal National Party leader Campbell Newman.

Mr Newman must win the seat if he's to become premier, but he will instead campaign in the inland town of Charleville, which has been hit by minor flooding.

Ms Bligh is also there, lending her support to a community where a handful of businesses and homes were affected yesterday.

Mr Rudd, who launched Ms Jones' election campaign in November, will help the MP unveil her new-look website.