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Lingle rated "It is a wide-open race," says Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono, surveying results from a new statewide poll of potential 2002 candidates for governor.
most favorably
Hirono is also encouraged
by ratings of expected
gubernatorial candidatesBy Richard Borreca
Star-BulletinThe figures show that Hirono is viewed favorably by 31 percent of those likely to vote, compared to Mayor Jeremy Harris, who is viewed favorably by 41 percent and Republican Party Chairwoman Linda Lingle, who enjoys a 43 percent favorable rating.
"It is clear to me that no one is running away with this race," Hirono said.
The figures, however, show that Hirono is a step behind Democrat Harris and Republican Lingle.
All three, plus Democratic Rep. Ed Case are considering running for governor in 2002.
The one person not faring as well is Gov. Ben Cayetano, who can't run for governor again. He is disliked more than liked, according to the poll.
The poll was taken among 603 likely voters statewide who were interviewed by telephone Dec. 28-Jan. 8 by Market Trends Pacific Inc. for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Lingle's high favorableness rating is especially notable, said Wanda Kakugawa, Market Trends Pacific president.
"Lingle has been out of office for two years and hasn't had the same opportunities to be as visible as the others," Kakugawa said.
Harris is coming off a successful re-election campaign that included heavy media exposure, and Hirono is completing her second term as lieutenant governor.
Kakugawa, who has been president of the local polling firm that has handled business clients and participated in national polls for nearly a decade, said Hirono needs to both increase her favorableness rating and lower the number of people who feel just neutral about her.
She would be helped if she was involved in more "opportunities that are attention-getting," Kakugawa said.
Hirono said she is looking forward to the campaign for governor and is already getting "a lot of positive support and feedback."
Harris said he was pleased with the poll results and Lingle added that she also was happy with the figures.
"I feel grateful that people feel this favorable when I haven't been holding any public office and haven't in the spotlight for last two years," said Lingle, who lost to Gov. Ben Cayetano two years ago in a close race for governor. She had been Maui mayor and county councilwoman.
Hirono and Lingle have said they want to run for governor next year. Harris has raised the possibility but has not come out with a clear statement of his intentions.
Lingle said she thought the GOP advances made in last year's local elections helped with her favorableness rating.
"They know a balanced political system is good for all of us and they see us moving in that direction ... I think people have supported me and will continue to support me because people are not looking for an insider," Lingle said.
Democratic Rep. Case has also shown interest in running for governor, but the poll shows that nearly two-thirds of those surveyed didn't recognize him. Those who had heard of him, however, generally are neutral about him, with almost a third feeling favorable about him.
"That is very encouraging to me," said Case, who has been a strong advocate of reforming the state's civil service laws.
"I think I have been articulating what mainstream Hawaii wants and I think what this (the poll) says is, the message has been getting out," said Case.
Cayetano's poll results on one hand show that he has more people who view him unfavorably, but his job approval rating is higher than it was two years ago.
While more people dislike him, by a 28 percent to 24 percent margin, 5 percent of the state's likely voters say he is doing an excellent job.
Last May, 9 percent said he was doing an excellent job, but both figures are much higher then two years ago when just two percent said he was doing great.
Cayetano's detractors have also decreased. A little more than two years ago, before his re-election, 36 percent called his job performance poor.
Webmaster note: The second poll graphic that ran with this article was unavailable at online post time. It will be added later if it becomes available.
