Aside from generating funds for the Democratic Party, Gov. Ben Cayetano said he hopes former President Bill Clinton's upcoming visit to Hawaii can help win back disaffected Democrats. Cayetano holds high hopes
for Clinton’s trip to HawaiiThe governor thinks the
fund-raising visit will
help at the pollsBy B.J. Reyes
Associated Press
"I think his presence will perhaps draw Democrats who maybe have strayed, back to the fold," the Democratic governor said yesterday.
Clinton's visit comes when the Democratic Party is expected to see its 40-year hold on power tested like never before.
In the race for governor, Republican Linda Lingle has held an edge over Democrat Mazie Hirono, according to some recent media polls, while the GOP also is more organized than in past campaigns as it looks to blunt the 31-20 edge that Democrats hold in the state House.
"With all of the problems the Democrats have had, we do have a certain philosophy that we stand for and when a former president of the United States comes here and is a president who is a Democrat, that may cause people to think about all the good things that Democrats have done for the state and for our country," Cayetano said.
Clinton is scheduled to arrive on Oahu for a rally in Honolulu on Oct. 29 before taking off the next day for visits to Kauai, Maui and the Big Island, state Democratic Party Chairwoman Lorraine Akiba said.
"He's coming for the coordinated campaign, which is to support all Democratic candidates," Akiba said. "I think, basically, he still is a very popular president."
The exact details of Clinton's visits have not yet been finalized, said Randy Kusaka, a spokesman for the Hawaii Government Employees Association, which is handling the arrangements.
Clinton last visited Hawaii in May on a stopover en route to an independence celebration in East Timor. During that visit, he made no public appearances but met with the governor and played a round of golf with Cayetano, business leaders and several former governors.
"The president is always a big draw no matter where he goes," Cayetano said. "Notwithstanding everything that's happened to him, he continues to be very popular with people."
Although Clinton will be attending various fund-raisers, Cayetano said he believes the message of Democratic unity will be more important than the amount of cash he can generate.
