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Isle Dems see LOS ANGELES -- Democrats, as Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono says, are ready for "hand-to-hand combat" to contest every state in the battle for the presidency, but after last night's speech by Democratic nominee Al Gore, Hawaii's delegation says the first fight will be at home.
tough fight ahead
They say the campaign
will ultimately hinge on
the issues, not styleBy Richard Borreca
Star-Bulletin
Hawaii's 32 delegates wrapped up the four-day convention cautious but cheered by what they said was a successful speech by Vice President Gore.
Before the speech, Hawaii Democratic leaders were worried.
Gov. Ben Cayetano said, "What I am nervous about is Gore is writing his own speech."
The 40-minute speech, which switched between personal reminisces and a list of specific programs Gore wanted to implant, was cheered.
"I think he did well. He took some really bold steps. The issues he touched on were not just feel-good stuff," Cayetano said.
The governor, who also is not known for his speaking style, identified with Gore's speech problems."He is not the most exciting public speaker. I know exactly how he feels," Cayetano said.
At election's end, however, it will be the campaign issues, both nationally and on a local level, that win the election for the Democrats, according to Hawaii party leaders.
U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, who expects to be campaigning for Gore along the West Coast in October, also is expecting a close presidential race.
"We have to be realistic. The analysis is, this is going to be a tough race and an uphill battle," Inouye said.
"On the issues we have all the points. Anyone who looks objectively at (Texas Gov. George W.) Bush's record in Texas would be horrified.
"If Hawaii had the same kind of record, I would be in hiding," Inouye said.
Inouye noted that although Bush and the Republicans have been leading in the polls, "they must be worried" because of the news leak that the special prosecutor is considering indicting President Clinton for perjury on charges relating the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
"If they didn't think he was a threat, they wouldn't have done it. This is just outrageous," Inouye said.
Former Gov. George Ariyoshi hopes the local Democratic Party enlists the unions and grass-roots workers to pull it to victory in November.
"The campaign will come down to the grass roots and the issues. The troops are the ones who will communicate the differences between the candidate and the record," Ariyoshi said.
According to Hirono, one of the best ways to move voters is to emphasize the differences between Bush, a right-to-life candidate, and Gore, who is pro-choice.
"I'm going to be busy mobilizing pro-choice women in Hawaii," Hirono said.
Other issues she sees helping Gore win in Hawaii include assurance that Social Security payments would not change and promises to help seniors with prescription drug costs, plus support for educators and liberal immigration policies.
She thinks Gore is much more likely than Bush to appoint non-white federal officials, and is working with the Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus to develop support for Gore.
"People of color need to get mobilized," Hirono said.
But as Hawaii delegate Linda Rosehill said, the entire election may be difficult.
"It is going to be hard to relate local issues to the national issues, and it may be hard to generate interest in the election. We will have to do a one-to-one campaign," said Rosehill, who is expected to help with the Democrats' campaign this fall.