HAWAII'S economic malaise may be contained to the island chain, but the fallout has spread 5,000 miles away to Washington, D.C. D.C. watches Hawaii
congressional raceCongress already is watching to see if eight- year Washington veteran U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie will make it through another battle and return.
In a normal political year there would be little anxiety. Hawaii has never failed to return a congressional incumbent who asked for his or her job back. But as the state's bankruptcy rate continues to break records, as people continue to leave the state, the feeling has sharpened that this year could be different.
"Everyone is concerned about the economy. The stress level is extremely high," says Quentin Kawananakoa, who, after four years in the state House, wants to become the first GOP man since Hiram Fong to serve Hawaii in Congress. So does state House colleague Gene Ward, also chanting the "It's the economy, stupid" mantra.
Hawaii's fortunes and the decisions of the federal government are intertwined more than in most states but, in this year of economic distress, the only thing voters want from Washington is some way back to prosperity.
"I can't tell you how many people who say if there aren't clear changes in this state they are leaving or declaring bankruptcy," Kawa-nanakoa said
Abercrombie, however, sees his job differently. And, not surprisingly, he gives himself fairly high marks. "I have the credibility, I have the experience, senority and the record...the Hawaii congressional delegation is pound for pound good or better than any other in the country," he says.
Interesting, both Kawananakoa and Abercrombie pay homage to the pork-barrel skills of Hawaii's senior senator, Dan Inouye.
Abercrombie claims to have sat at the foot of the master, bringing back more dollars in federal military and transportation spending than we give to Washington in taxes.
"Senator Inouye says we are a one-two punch," Abercrombie says.
Kawananakoa sees the fight from a different perspective.
"All of our resources come from the good works of Senator Inouye, Abercrombie is just the weak link," he says.
Fellow Republican Ward, however, figures that because of his Vietnam veteran background and as an international businessman, he would get along best with Inouye.
Abercrombie is aiming his campaign straight at Hawaii's desire for more federal spending, saying that without Hawaii's four Democrats in Washington, the Republicans will mercilessly cut spending.
WARD and Kawananakoa, however, say they can't stimulate the economy by just dumping dollars in Hawaii.
"I'm saying don't give away fish, give the people fishing poles: we need agencies to help expand or start new industries," Kawananakoa says.
"My office will be brokering private-public sector opportunities," Ward promises.
The economy, however, is forcing some odd tactics. For instance, Abercrombie, the vigorous proponent of social change, is now forced to argue that stability and consistency is the most logical choice.
And his two GOP opponents are challenged to not so much make the First District's urban Honolulu voters feel the pains of Hawaii's lackluster economy, but feel that the solution rests thousands of miles away inside Washington's beltway.
Richard Borreca reports on Hawaii's politics every Wednesday.
He can be reached by e-mail at rborreca@pixi.com