Frustrated by a divided local party, national Democratic groups that have spent more than $300,000 on ads and phone calls in attempts to weaken Republican Charles Djou's campaign for Congress appear ready to pull out of the battle.

“;Good!”; said state Democratic Party Chairman Dante Carpenter when told of the news.

On Wednesday, Carpenter and other state party leaders e-mailed their counterparts at the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, complaining about reports of a DNC poll that showed Democrat Colleen Hanabusa's campaign well behind both Djou and former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a fellow Democrat.

“;We wish to express our outrage and disappointment,”; Carpenter said they told national party leaders. “;We don't believe the DNC or the DCCC should be providing any information to hurt any Democrat candidate, especially in the middle of a hard-fought campaign.”;

U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the DCCC, said yesterday, “;It's an extremely difficult race, since two Democratic candidates are splitting the vote.”;

  Hanabusa's Commercial Slams Case

 

Democrat Colleen Hanabusa's commercial says she helped Disney create jobs in Hawaii. She also slams Democrat Ed Case on his record.

 

[ Watch ]

 

 

 

 

“;The local Democrats haven't been able to come together and resolve that, so we'll have to re-evaluate our participation,”; he said.

Andrew Stone, western regional press secretary for the DCCC, noted that “;no decisions have been made yet.”;

Hawaii's top Democrat, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who also plays a major role in national Democratic politics, has endorsed Hanabusa, the state Senate president, while national Democrats feel that Case has a better chance of beating City Councilman Djou in the winner-take-all special election. National Democrats are concerned that a Republican victory in Hawaii will embarrass President Barack Obama.

Carpenter said, “;We think they are trying to give us a mainland perspective, and that is not exactly how we see things here. We obviously have a difference of opinion in style and methodology, and we let them know.”;

Reports circulated early last month that the DCCC was considering endorsing Case over Hanabusa. About a week later, Inouye made a $100,000 donation to the DCCC, which was seen by some political analysts as an attempt to influence the group.

Inouye has made no secret of his disdain for Case after Case's 2006 primary challenge of U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.

Several officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, acting at the request of the White House, recently appealed to Inouye to change course out of a fear that unless Hanabusa withdrew, a Republican would win the seat.

A spokesman for Inouye said he was unaware of any such conversation.

Akaka said in a brief interview he had not received a similar appeal.

“;The senator stands in strong support of state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa,”; an Inouye spokesman said yesterday. “;We need her fighting for Hawaii in Congress.”;

Case said he thinks he has the best shot of winning and that Hanabusa should leave the race.

“;I share the obvious frustration of my former colleague, Chris Van Hollen, with the failure of Colleen and her supporters to do the right thing. Over the last months it has become crystal clear to the DCCC, DNC and now White House that Colleen cannot win and that her only role is to boost the candidacy of Charles Djou,”; Case said.

Hanabusa said in a statement that her “;campaign continues to move ahead in this race to let the voters of the 1st Congressional District decide their next representative to Congress.”;