National Democrats took another swipe at Charles Djou while Djou took aim at Colleen Hanabusa and Ed Case's wife made an appeal for funds as the major candidates for the special election for Congress head into the final week before ballots are mailed to voters next Friday.

The candidates have a joint forum tonight at an event sponsored by New Hope Oahu Christian fellowship. A pair of live televised debates is set for the week of May 3, when voters should be receiving ballots.

All three candidates are fighting for a shrinking number of undecided voters.

According to a poll conducted from the mainland April 11-14, the race was a statistical tie with 7 percent undecided, compared with 21 percent undecided in a Star-Bulletin/KITV poll in January.

Republican Djou ended the first three months of the year with more campaign cash than his Democratic rivals, and propped himself up further with a one-day fundraising drive Wednesday that generated $116,000. The fund drive coincided with his appearance on Fox News Channel with conservative commentator Sean Hannity.

But Djou also found himself fending off charges of hypocrisy from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee after the Republican National Committee transferred $90,400 to the state party, most of which was used to buy his television advertising. Djou has been critical of “;outside intrusion”; into Hawaii's race.

“;While Djou was decrying the outside intrusion of mainland groups, the Republican National Committee was running advertisements on his behalf,”; DCCC spokesman Andy Stone said. “;There's a word for that: hypocrisy.”;

Djou said his problem is not with outside contributors, but with their message.

“;I don't have a problem if someone from the mainland wants to contribute to a Hawaii campaign,”; Djou said. “;I do have a problem with mainland special interests coming in and lying to the people of Hawaii with false TV ads.”;

Djou was referencing an ad the DCCC paid for that tied his signing of a taxpayer protection pledge with supporting tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. The website factcheck.org deemed the spot “;false.”;

Djou criticized Hanabusa meanwhile for the legislative death of a proposal that would have provided low-interest loans to homeowners who install energy-efficient devices on their homes.

In a message to supporters, Djou cited opposition from the Mortgage Bankers Association of Hawaii.

“;As Senate president, if Colleen Hanabusa can't stand up to the Mortgage Bankers Association, how is she going to stand up to Wall Street?”; Djou stated.

Hanabusa's campaign declined comment.

Case launched a new appeal for funds with a message from his wife, Audrey.