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Primary results
not flawless,
says Lingle
The governor believes that Saturday's
results do not indicate a GOP
candidate's standing
Offering herself up as a free campaign consultant, Republican Gov. Linda Lingle joined the campaign trail in earnest yesterday.
While Lingle was speaking to about 60 campaign supporters and candidates, the Democrats were concluding their own rally, hoping to fit a message for victory in November.
Candidates have only six weeks left between Saturday's primary election and the Nov. 2 general election.
Lingle gave the crowd at the Kapiolani Boulevard GOP headquarters a lesson in political handicapping, saying that primary election results do not indicate a GOP candidate's support in the general election.
To prove her point, Lingle explained that Republican Rep. Guy Ontai had only 1,400 votes in the 2002 primary, while his opponent garnered 3,900 votes in the primary; but in the general, Ontai beat the Democrat, Charlotte Nekota, by 1,500 votes in the general.
Lingle said she expects that pattern to be repeated in the general election.
That is important because Lingle recognizes that their campaigns are wrapped up in her future success.
"I know you have a tremendously positive message to help the lieutenant governor and I achieve the change that people wanted so desperately when they put us in office in 2002," Lingle said.
Later, Lingle said that the fall election is not so much a referendum on her own administration and politics, but is an "attempt to explain to people the kind of help I need to carry out the reforms they wanted."
Over at the Pagoda Hotel ballroom, U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie was telling about 80 Democratic candidates and supporters that two years ago, Lingle and the GOP got "an A-plus for their organizational effort."
"We are going to show Linda Lingle we are not fools," Abercrombie said, vowing to run a sophisticated voter identification program to turn out the voters in November.
"We are going to put the money behind it, too," Abercrombie said.
Campaign spending reports back up Abercrombie's pledge. The Democrats have already raised $532,000 since January. The GOP is trailing, having picked up $403,000, according to state reports.
Former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono also warned the assembled Democrats not to be complacent.
"We need to get our base," said Hirono, who lost in the 2002 race for governor to Lingle.
"You see what happens when you don't get out the vote," Hirono said, adding that this fall's election is "a prelude to the race in two years."
In the weekend election primary, three Democratic incumbents lost their legislative seats.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo, who had been called up in the National Guard mobilization for duty in Iraq, was not campaigning because of her military service. She was beaten by Rida Cabanilla.
Two Senate Democrats who had run afoul of the Campaign Spending Commission and had paid fines for spending violations, Sens. Melodie Aduja (D, Kaneohe-Kahuku) and Cal Kawamoto (D, Waipahu), were also defeated.
Clarence Nishihara, who won the race against Kawamoto, will be elected automatically because there is no general election opponent.
Former State Sen. Clayton Hee beat Aduja, and he goes against political newcomer Republican Jim Henshaw in the general election.
Democrats discounted the losses by the three incumbents as any kind of anti-incumbent voter swing.
"The vote says you have to be very above board in how you run your campaign," said House Speaker Calvin Say.
"I don't see an anti-incumbent feeling. I think if Democrats work hard, get out their grass-roots campaign, they will be OK," said Say (D, St. Louis Heights-Wilhelmina Rise).
Aduja's and Kawamoto's losses also were a defeat for the Hawaii State Teachers Association, which had strongly backed both candidates.
Democrats are hoping to continue their strong coalition with organized labor to both raise funds and help get voters to the polls in November.
Yesterday, Roger Takabayashi, HSTA president, said he could not explain Kawamoto's loss, saying that the 10-year legislative veteran had helped his Waipahu community.
The HSTA's endorsements for the state school board faired much better, Takabayashi said, pointing out that the only endorsed BOE candidate not to get into the general was Nobleza Magsanoc.
Republican Lingle, who had endorsed five BOE candidates, saw only two, Darwin Ching and Shad Kane, make it into the general.
Lingle discounted the BOE losses, saying the GOP is putting most of its efforts into winning control of the state House.
To accomplish that, Republicans will need to increase their House membership to 26 from 15.
