Gabbard ahead of Case
in funding of campaign
City Councilman Mike Gabbard is far ahead of U.S. Rep. Ed Case in the race to raise money for the fall political campaign.
Gabbard, a first-term councilman, is running as a Republican for the 2nd Congressional District seat, which covers rural Oahu and the neighbor islands. Case, a Democrat and a former state representative, is finishing his first full term in Congress.
Gabbard's report filed with the Federal Election Commission shows that he has raised $107,349 and has almost $105,000 in cash on hand. In comparison, Case raised $14,211 during the same period and has a total of $37,653 available.
"I hate calling people and asking them for money, but that's what I've had to do every night to raise money for my congressional campaign," Gabbard said in an e-mail reply to questions about his fund raising. "It's the most uncomfortable feeling in the world."
Case said he has been busy in Congress but plans to devote more time to raising money for his re-election.
"I have clearly committed the unpardonable sin of focusing exclusively on doing my job in Congress instead of fund raising," Case said.
Gabbard's funds include $8,000 from relatives and $20,000 in loans from himself. But, Gabbard said, the campaign has been successful picking up "grass-roots support that is translating into financial support."
His campaign will need about $700,000, Gabbard estimated.
Although the Hawaii Republican Party is not supporting candidates in the primary election, Brennon Morioka, GOP chairman, said the financial support for Gabbard is significant.
"I think it demonstrates that there is a lot of interest in removing more incumbent Democrats," Morioka said. "I think his campaign will be formidable, and he will definitely make Case work."
One key Republican supporting Gabbard is Linda Smith, the former Republican Party treasurer who is now senior policy adviser to Republican Gov. Linda Lingle. Smith gave Gabbard $4,000 last month and $250 in 2000, when Gabbard was considering a congressional campaign.
Also contributing to Gabbard's current campaign was his daughter, state Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo, a Democrat representing Waipahu and Ewa.
Gabbard Tamayo gave her father $2,000 last month. She also made a $250 donation last year to the state Republican Party.
That GOP contribution, however, was to purchase a ticket to a dinner honoring Lingle held to raise funds for the GOP.
Gabbard Tamayo said in response to questions about the donation that she accompanied her father because her mother, a school board member, was attending a meeting.
"Last week, I told my legislative colleagues that I will be contributing $250 to the Democratic Party to nullify whatever advantage my $250 gave to the Republicans," Gabbard Tamayo said.
Democratic Party Chairman Alex Santiago said he did not know about the contribution and that he would talk to Gabbard Tamayo about it.
"It is not the kind of behavior we Democrats like to see from our elected officials," Santiago said about the contribution.
Other party officials said the Democratic Party requires complaints about party members helping other political parties to be considered on a case-by-case basis and do not automatically result in discipline.