Kucinich no longer
a sore pointIsle Democrats head to Boston
for their national convention
Hawaii's split Democratic convention delegation appears on the mend now that former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich has endorsed Sen. John Kerry.
Hawaii made national news for the Kucinich campaign in February when the Ohio representative won eight of the 29 votes in the Hawaii presidential preference poll. Kerry won the other 21 votes.
Although the eight votes are pledged for Kucinich, it is expected that after yesterday's endorsement by Kucinich, the delegates will be released to vote for the Massachusetts senator.
Kucinich did gain a spot on the podium and will address the national convention Wednesday evening.
The Democratic convention starts Monday in Boston.
Hawaii Democrats go to the convention for the first time in four decades without an incumbent governor leading the delegation. Gov. Linda Lingle, a Republican, will be heading the GOP delegation to the August party convention in New York.
Democratic Party Chairman Brickwood Galuteria will lead the Hawaii delegation.
Senate President Robert Bunda, a 22-year legislative veteran, is going to his first national political convention, and he's excited.
"Personally, I want to meet the presidential candidate and the vice presidential candidate, John Edwards, and talk story," Bunda said.
"For those of us who are going for the first time, it brings some excitement to the voting, and I'm sure it will make a positive difference," he added.
Although not part of the delegation, Henry Giugni, the former U.S. Senate sergeant-at-arms and aide to Hawaii's senior Sen. Daniel Inouye, will be going to the convention as he has every four years since 1964.
"It gives you the chance to see all 50 states in action, and you learn something at every convention," said Giugni, vice chairman of Cassidy & Associates.
The increased security at the national conventions will be an overwhelming concern for the delegates and the news media at both the Boston and New York conventions, Giugni said.
"This year, they will close roads and areas that you never had in past conventions," he said.
Other Hawaii Democrats, such as Sen. Donna Kim, are looking at the convention as a chance for Hawaii to make a splash on the mainland.
"Wednesday night we are planning to all wear aloha or Hawaii attire, and we will have leis and plants to decorate our delegation sign," Kim said.
Hawaii Democratic Party
www.hawaiidemocrats.org
