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The battle for
Mayor
With the primary elections over,
the focus shifts to the mayoral
candidates’ future plans
Mayoral candidates Mufi Hannemann and Duke Bainum have been long on political rhetoric and short on specifics in their pre-primary election campaigns, said the man they hope to succeed.
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Duke Bainum On his appeal to voters: "I think it bears out exactly what we've been saying all along: that the people I appeal to, independent people, people who are tired of the present system and want real change, we believe support us and they didn't vote (Saturday), they will vote for us in November."
Mufi Hannemann
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"I think the real task for both candidates now is to ... get past talking about the potholes and the sewers and look at articulating a vision for the city that the voters can identify with," Harris said. "I think now the public's going to want to see, 'OK, exactly what are you going to do on this issue, and how are you going to solve the problem or improve the situation?' It's about issues, vision, and it's about values."
But the two former city councilmen said they are already doing that.
"I wish Mayor Harris would come to one of my coffee hours and hear me talk plenty of specifics. I've been talking specifics the whole way," said Bainum, minutes before he entered the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall to campaign at the Hawaii Woman's Expo.
"I think you also have to tailor your remarks to what the people want to hear, and it was clear that they wanted to hear about our emphasis on roads and sewers and basic city services," Hannemann said following the Democratic Party unity breakfast yesterday morning. "I agree with Mayor Harris. Now the campaign can shift to other (issues), which is my strength."
The mayor and Harris and Bainum agree that the winning candidate needs to go after voters who did not go to the polls during the primary election.
They include Republican and independent voters who plan to come out to vote in the presidential election.
"They are looking for someone who's going to inspire them," Harris said.
They also need to vie for the votes garnered by former Mayor Frank Fasi, who came in third place.
"This is where my appeal again is, across the board. Democrats and Republicans, business and labor. This is where I have tremendous advantage over my opponent," Hannemann said.
Bainum said, "I think it bears out exactly what we've been saying all along: that the people I appeal to, independent people, people who are tired of the present system and want real change, we believe support us and they didn't vote (Saturday), they will vote for us in November."
Harris said that the campaigns have to go beyond the "shallow level of advertising" that has occurred so far.
"I think the money is less important now. I think what we've learned is the money in the primary couldn't buy the race. If the money could've gotten 51 percent, it would've gotten 51 percent," Harris said.
Hannemann said he is at a disadvantage financially with Bainum outspending him about 3-to-1 primarily with his own money. "We'll raise enough. Money is coming in now. People are coming forward and are saying they don't like this aspect of one individual, quote, trying to buy an election," Hannemann said.
"I don't know how many times Mufi Hannemann has run (islandwide), and he's spent a lot money on those races to get his name up to this point," Bainum said. "You always need money, but the money is to get your message out."
