By slipping out of a fight between state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa and former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, Hawaii's Democrats are hoping for a November knockout against Republican U.S. Rep. Charles Djou.

Case stunned supporters and opponents alike yesterday by pulling out of the race for the 1st Congressional District.

He leaves the field open for Senate President Hanabusa, who has already won the backing of the party's leaders and most public and private unions.

“;It helps tremendously because then there will not be a bloody primary. Hopefully it is a way to unify the party and regain the seat,”; said Randy Perreira, head of the state AFL-CIO and the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

In Washington, Djou said that Case's departure would not change his work in Congress, but he said the political picture is “;a little clearer.”;

“;It helps with the strategic thinking in the campaign,”; Djou said, noting that now he knows who he will be running against in the November general election.

  Case drops out of race

 

Ed Case withdraws his candidacy at the Democratic Convention.

 

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  Behind Case's decision to withdraw

 

Ed Case's motives behind withdrawing from the congressional race is revealed.

 

[ Watch ]

 

 

 

 

Case made his surprise announcement during the closing day of the state Democratic Convention at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. He told the more than 830 delegates and party members that he wanted to stay in the race but that “;there is room for only one standard-bearer for our party. Anything else would divide us. Anything else would compromise the values we hold so dear.”;

Supporters and friends said Case had been weighing his decision, but no one knew what he would say until he gave his speech.

He told the delegates that neither he nor Hanabusa won a majority in the special election to fill the remaining months of former Rep. Neil Abercrombie's congressional term.

Hanabusa received 52,802 votes, or 30.8 percent. Case received 47,391 votes, or 27.6 percent. Djou, a former Honolulu city councilman, received 67,610 votes, or 39.4 percent.

Hanabusa, Case said, needs to listen to his supporters, who want change.

“;We do have a deepening and spreading disillusionment with politics, at least how it is practiced in this state. Politics is too often about power rather than people, politics that divides rather than unifies,”; Case said.

“;Listen, adopt and incorporate, espouse, motivate and commit and you will win. Don't and you will have a very difficult election,”; Case warned.

Hanabusa, still shocked as her primary fight against Case evaporated, said she would start listening, but did not announce any changes in policies.

“;What you saw today was a most magnanimous gesture in dropping out of this race. With it comes to me a heavy burden to live up to his expectations and his faith,”; Hanabusa said.

“;He is expecting me to listen to and appeal to his voting base. It is an amazing gesture and an amazing gift,”; Hanabusa added.

No mention was made of some of the serious issue splits between Hanabusa and Case. For instance, Hanabusa supports the federal Jones Act, which supports the U.S. shipping industry. Case thinks the act cuts out foreign competition and drives up the costs of goods delivered to Hawaii.

They also disagree on the native Hawaiian recognition bill. Case says it needs more hearings and work, while Hanabusa is in favor of a speedy vote.

And they have different stances on same-sex marriage. Case supports it and Hanabusa is against it.

Her first job, Hanabusa said, will be to sit down with Case “;to help me understand the issues he considers to be the issues we differ on.”;

Case was not available for comment after his speech. As for his political future, observers said that Case's campaign did not look strong after finishing third and that the withdrawal preserves his political options for future contests.

“;He has always been in trouble with the liberal wing of the Democratic Party,”; said Neal Milner, a University of Hawaii political science professor. “;And in the primary there would have been blood on the floor.”;

“;He found himself in a bad place and decided that there are certain risks you take and some you don't,”; Milner said.

The party's leaders praised Case's decision.

“;I was just happy and deeply moved. I think Ed assures us of a great victory this November,”; said U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, Hawaii's senior senator.