Lingle brings in
the most money

The GOP candidate for governor
has raised more than
all 3 Democratic opponents

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By Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com

More than $2.4 million has been raised so far this year in the governor's race, with Republican Linda Lingle taking in more money than the three major Democratic candidates combined.

Campaign spending reports covering the first six months of the year showed that Lingle raised $1.5 million, while combined funds for Democrats Andy Anderson, state Rep. Ed Case and Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono totaled a little less than $900,000.

Lingle's opponent in the Republican primary, John Carroll, raised $22,104, but expenses and loans have put Carroll's campaign $17,704 in the red.

The Democratic candidates said they were not surprised that Lingle had outdistanced them in raising money.

"We haven't been to New York," Anderson said, a reference to Lingle's mainland fund-raisers.

Hirono noted: "I know she was busy raising money all over the place, including on the mainland."

And Case added, "She's been fund raising and campaigning full-time for four years now."

Lingle credited the success of her fund-raising effort to Rae McCorkle, an attorney who took a leave of absence from her job to become Lingle's director of finance.

"It is a testament to her and her team; Rae has been able to keep us on track," Lingle said.

Lingle added that she was outspent by Gov. Ben Cayetano in the 1998 race and this time she "wanted to have the money to communicate our plan and support our grassroots efforts."

But all the Democrats agreed that the governor's race may not necessarily go to the person with the most money.

"The campaign is not going to be won on the basis of how much money anybody raises. The campaign is going to be won or lost on the basis of who has the best message of real change for Hawaii. We'll have sufficient resources to get that message out," Case said.

"Truly, this is a campaign that is not going to be won by money.

"I believe it's going to be people; it's going to be the people who decide and they're not going to decide on the basis of who's spending $5 million," Hirono said, referring to the amount that Lingle has said was needed to mount a successful campaign.

Anderson said his campaign has just begun to raise money and has fund-raisers scheduled for August.

"I don't need $5 million to beat her. I think I can be more frugal. I think I can get more bang for my buck by spending wisely, so I think I can put on a comparable campaign reaching voters," said Anderson, a businessman and former state lawmaker.

In the Democratic primary, Hirono has the strongest campaign war chest.

She raised $392,498, spent $317,270 and has a surplus of $292,794.

Case's spending report shows receipts of $254,434 and disbursements at $227,887. With a $40,000 loan from family members, he has a surplus of $45,047.

Anderson has raised $219,865, spent $177,000 and has debts of $99,988, including loans to himself.

His report shows a deficit of $55,239.

Among Democrats running for lieutenant governor, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee Clayton Hee has raised the most money, with $98,050. His campaign has a cash balance of $80,704.

Sen. Matt Matsunaga has a $21,553 surplus and school board member Donna Ikeda has $32,000 left.

For the Republicans running for the state's No. 2 job, former broadcast newsman Dalton Tanonaka raised $157,164 but $100,000 of that was in loans.

Former state Judge James "Duke" Aiona Jr. raised $69,544, spent $57,933 and has a surplus of $11,510. Former state lawmaker Cam Cavasso raised $15,638, spent $15,559 and has unpaid expenditures of $9,826.

SPENDING ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE A look at candidates' spending in the period covering Jan. 1 through June 30: LINDA LINGLE (R) >> Raised: $1,533,977 >> Spent: $969,560 >> Debts: 0 >> Surplus/Deficit: $1,126,105 JOHN CARROLL (R) >> Raised: $22,104 >> Spent: $28,227 >> Debts: $13,210 >> Surplus/Deficit: -$17,704 ANDY ANDERSON (D) >> Raised: $219,865 >> Spent: $177,020 >> Debts: $99,988 >> Surplus/Deficit: -$55,239 ED CASE (D) >> Raised: $254,434 >> Spent: $227,887 >> Debts: $40,000 >> Surplus/Deficit: $45,047 MAZIE HIRONO (D) >> Raised: $392,498 >> Spent: $317,270 >> Debts: $13,805 >> Surplus/Deficit: $292,794