Obamas Home Congressional District In Play
The plot played out in another Democratic stronghold, Massachusetts, in January with the election of a little-known Republican state senator to the late Ted Kennedys Senate seat.
The GOP hopes it can build on that win in Hawaiis upcoming special election for the 1st Congressional District seat representing urban Honolulu – President Barack Obamas hometown.
“The people of Hawaii have this clear opportunity to speak to the American people about whether or not were satisfied with the status quo in Congress,” Honolulu councilman and Republican candidate Charles Djou said.
Democrats believe the May 22 election to serve the remainder of the term of U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who resigned to run for governor, will end as it has here for 20 years – with a Democratic victory.
With two Democrats also running for the seat, however, theres a chance they could split the vote and Djou could squeak by with a plurality and add to GOP confidence heading into the falls midterm elections.
Democrats are not taking any chances as they hope to hold onto seats in this off-year election where the party in power generally loses seats.
“Its a Democratic district, and were committed to making sure it remains Democratic,” said Andy Stone, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The group aired ads and blasted e-mails criticizing Djou but hasnt highlighted either of the Democratic candidates – former Congressman Ed Case and state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa.
While Republicans hope to use a victory as a harbinger of wider Democratic loses in November, the biggest factor influencing the race may be a long-standing internal Democratic Party dispute.
Case, a 57-year-old moderate Democrat and cousin of former AOL chairman Steve Case, held a rural Hawaii congressional seat and rankled party leaders in 2006 when he challenged longtime U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.
In a state where newcomers are expected to wait their turn and run for higher office until an incumbent decides to step down, Case questioned the then-82-year-old Akakas fitness for office.
The tension remains today, with U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, endorsing Hanabusa instead of Case, his former colleague in Congress.
Case acknowledged hes received help from the DCCC while Hanabusa said she hasnt talked to them since last year. Hanabusa, the first Asian-American woman in the country to lead a legislative body, has the backing of Hawaiis most powerful Democrats and labor unions.
Djou, who has built a reputation on voting against taxes, has taken advantage of the situation by speaking out against Washington Democrats attack ads and their meddling in Hawaiis race.
The GOP is hoping Djou could continue the trend started in Massachusetts when voters elected Scott Brown.
“Its obvious to everyone that the national Democrats have come in and started to play in a state that doesnt usually welcome outsiders from Washington,” said Joanna Burgos, a spokeswoman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “They created a lot of this infighting.”
Case said Republicans are trying to divide the Democratic vote between him and Hanabusa.