Hawaii, Democrats are facing a possible inversion!!!!!
By Chris Good - a staff editor at TheAtlantic.com
APR 8 2010
In Hawaii, Democrats are facing a possible inversion of New York-23--the '09 race in which Conservative Party candidate Dough Hoffman's entry derailed Republicans' chances and handed a congressional seat to Democrats. One major difference: this race doesn't express a larger ideological divide among Democratic ranks, as NY-23 did among Republicans.
This is a three-way race featuring two Democrats, former Rep. Ed Case and Hawaii State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, squaring off against Republican Charles Djou. It is a winner-take-all contest between the three candidates, competing to replace Neil Abercrombie, who left Congress to run for governor. The winner will represent Hawaii's first district, covering urban Honolulu--the district where President Obama was born and raised.
Right now, the race is close: according to a Democratic source, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has conducted an internal poll showing Case at 32%, Djou at 32%, Hanabusa at 27%, and 9% undecided.
And there is some further in-fighting going on here. The DCCC has reportedly inserted itself into this race, sending some undercover help to the Case campaign, including assistance from DCCC Western Regional Political Director Adam Sullivan.
Hanabusa, meanwhile, has the support of Hawaii's two Democratic senators, Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye (who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee)--meaning the DCCC has evidently split from the wishes of Hawaii's two most senior politicians, in an attempt to elect the perceived frontrunner with an edge in the polls.
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There's more to the back-story: according to two Hawaii Democrats, Case offended Hawaii's senators by challenging Akaka for his Senate seat in 2006, campaigning (indirectly) on Akaka's age.
"He was trying to make the argument that, look, our two senators were 85 years old. Let's make a switch now and start building some seniority so we don't lose everything all at once," one Hawaii Democrat said. "In insulting Sen. Akaka, he pissed off Sen. Inouye."
"It was the subtext of everything, that Sen. Akaka was old and that for some reason he's incapable of representing Hawaii in Congress," another Hawaii Democrat said, adding that both Akaka and Inouye liked Case at the time and were comfortable with him becoming Hawaii's next senator--if he waited his turn.
June 28, 2005, Nineteen American Warriors were killed in the mountainous terrain near Asadabad, Afghanistan. On the fourth anniversary of their deaths, a lasting memorial was dedicated in the park previously known as Triangle Park near Diamond Head Circle, Oahu, Hawaii. Placed in the newly renamed Operation Red Wings – Medal of Honor Park, plaques preserve their names and recount the action in which they died.
The Kahala Community Association and Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board joined in supporting City Councilman Charles Djou’s campaign to rename the park, which previously honored Civil War Maj. Gen. Thomas Ruger. The park was dedicated and renamed Veterans Day, 2008. At a meeting of the city council, Dennis Gaughan and Chad Buck, representing SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Foundation-Hawaii; and other Special Armed Force members – Randy West, Kelly LaPorte, and Daniel Rice were introduced. Councilmember Djou and the Board were thanked for entertaining the proposal to rename the park. From the Foundation’s perspective Operation Red Wing has strong Hawaii connections and recommended the proposed name of “Red Wing – Medal of Honor Park”, or “Operation Red Wing – Medal of Honor Park”. The Foundation worked closely in the production of the final plaques and the tribute.
The DCCC is airing an ad in the race attacking Djou, but not taking sides between the Democrats.
If Djou wins, it would be difficult for Republicans to claim it's a referendum on President Obama or health care reform: Hawaii has one of the most liberal health care systems in the nation, and the Democrats' recently passed health reform bill actually exempts Hawaii from one of its provisions.
But it is the district where Obama hails from, and if Republicans can take it, it will be a feather in their cap between May and November. The seat could turn red with 60% of the votes going to Democrats, but a Republican win in Hawaii would be a coup for the GOP--and Republicans would certainly trumped the symbolism of Obama's hometown district changing hands.
DCCC Poll: Hawaii Tied ( Djou Can Win)
The Dems are running scared in Hawaii with the upcoming special election ( May 22nd) in a district Obama won with 70% of the vote. Yet, Bush did get 46% in 2004 and Gov Lingle racked up big wins in the district ( 64%) and in this special election where all the candidates will be on the same ballot together and whoever gets the most votes wins Charles Djou poses a real threat. He has already proven his electability by representing Dem leaning seat based in Waikiki for city of Honolulu on city council.
The race includes Former Congressman Case and State Senator Hanabusa for the Dems whom is being supported by both US Senators as well as labor ( neither technically live in the district either). The DCCC is thinking of backing Former Congressman Case who represented Hawaii’s other congressional district but for now the DCCC admitted its goal is to attack Djou and this week they began just that. 2 attack ads on Charles Djou one of which is for his signing of Americans For Tax Reform pledge to not raise taxes ( this is bad how?) have begun and DCCC Van Hollen has promised more.
DCCC poll in the Hawaii’s first congressional district shows a close special election race with Ed Case (D) at 32%, Charles Djou (R) at 32% and Colleen Hanabusa(D) at 27% with 9% undecided.
Keep in mind Case has already ran statewide in Hawaii before and was Congressman ( he is considered more “moderate one who can appeal to Independents) and Hanabusa has run for Congress before herself and is in State Legislature in a leadership role while Djou is a city councilman still not known yet ( his numbers can grow) but he needs the help. The NRCC is still pretty cash strapped be interesting to see what they do in terms of a play here.
Take some time to look up Charles Djou and try to help him with what you can. A win right inside Obama’s backyard can only help unnerve many more Dems in the fall.
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