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NEWS AND VIEWS THAT IMPACT LIMITED CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT

"There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with
power to endanger the public liberty." - - - - John Adams

Monday, September 8, 2014

GOP targets Hawaii - Will the Republican tide make it to the islands?



Will Solid Blue Hawaii Go Republican?
The GOP did elect a Hawaii Governor from 2002 to 2010.


Pat Saiki, the chairwoman of the Hawaii Republican Party, told party leaders on Saturday that the Republican National Committee has invested in the islands to help Republican candidates win in November.

In a memo, Saiki said the national money would be used to hire local residents as field representatives and to assist the party's "ground game" of voter outreach.

"This means that our national counterpart understands the unique opportunity we have to put a Republican back in Washington Place, to send Republicans to Washington, D.C., from Hawaii, and to increase Republican numbers in the state Legislature," Saiki wrote reports the Honolulu Star Advertiser.

Former GOP Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona
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Hawaii Governor's Race
41%  -  Duke Aiona (R)
34%  -  David Ige (D)
15%  -  Mufi Hannemann (I)
 
 
Former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, the Republican candidate for governor, has led in public-opinion polls in a three-way race against state Sen. David Ige, a Democrat, and former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, an independent. Former congressman Charles Djou, a Republican, is trying to reclaim the urban Honolulu seat in Congress against state Rep. K. Mark Takai, a Democrat.

The Republican Governors Association is expected to provide independent financial help to the Aiona campaign.

Party officials would not disclose how much the RNC has directed to the islands, but the figure will be available in future campaign finance reports. Some Republicans have been critical about diverting national money to Hawaii, a state historically dominated by Democrats, when it could likely be put to better use in states where Republicans have the opportunity to pick up seats and take control of the U.S. Senate or expand their majority in the U.S. House.

National Democrats, too, would prefer not to have to spend much money defending Democratic candidates in Hawaii, since money is needed in battleground states. The Democratic Governors Association has conducted research in Hawaii this year and could step in to help Ige, who has struggled with fundraising.

The national parties routinely help local parties by providing money for staff and voter identification efforts, but local investments can increase during election years.

Thanks to The Libertarian Republican for a heads up on this story.


Hawaii's 1st Congressional District 2012
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticColleen Hanabusa (incumbent)116,50553.5%
RepublicanCharles Djou96,82444.4%
Blank Votes4,4672.1%
Over Votes800.0%
Totals217,876100%


Ex-GOP Congressman Charles Djou
Major Charles Djou served with the 10th Mountain
Division in Afghanistan.
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Djou is trying to re-claim his urban Honolulu seat in Congress

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