Abercrombie wins Dem. primary for governor in Hawaii

Neil Abercrombie, former congressman and a Democratic gubernatorial candidate, addresses his supporters at his campaign headquarters on Saturday.

Hawaii Democrats on Saturday nominated former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie in their bid to retake the governor's office from the GOP in President Obama's birth state. Republican Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona coasted to his party's nomination.

Both will be seeking to succeed Gov. Linda Lingle, who cannot run for re-election because of term limits, in what is shaping up to be a classic liberal-vs-conservative battle between two veteran politicians. Democrats hope to regain control of one of the most heavily Democratic states in the country, which gave Obama 72% of the vote.

   Abercrombie was defeating ex-Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, 60 to 38% with 240 of 242 precincts reporting. The pair waged a spirited primary that may have turned on a flier Hannemann sent voters that highlighted the candidates' birthplaces, the universities they attended and their wives' ethnicities.

"This is a great evening. This is the night that we go toward a new day in Hawaii," said Abercrombie, wearing a floral Hawaiian shirt and a maile lei.

   The former congressman took the stage for his victory speech after being introduced by Obama's sister Maya Soetoro-Ng and actress Kelly Hu. An energized Abercrombie said that in 2008, "a great wave came across Hawaii" with the election of Obama.

   "Now in 2010, a new wave of hope and change is coming to Hawaii, and it starts tonight," he said. "This is about the people of Hawaii and a new vision for Hawaii's future."

Hannemann said he will support Abercrombie.

   "I love the opportunity of being mayor," Hannemann said. "I love the opportunity that I had to run for governor. I love being in public service. And all this means is that the people of Hawaii have spoken and say 'Mufi, this is not your time.' And I abide by that decision. And I also abide by what Heavenly Father has in store for us in the future."


 

   Abercrombie represented urban Honolulu for nearly 20 years before resigning in February to seek the nomination. By then, Hannemann had been unofficially campaigning for months and had already raised more than $1.6 million. But by Thursday, the former congressman's fundraising had collected $3 million in total, not far off Hannemann's $3.5 million.

   Short and stout, Abercrombie now faces Aiona in what could be a tight race even in a state that has long been a Democratic bastion. The 55-year-old Aiona defeated his lone challenger, the underfunded Honolulu lawyer John Carroll, by a large margin.

   "Let's just work as hard as we can with much aloha. Remember this: Hawaii is special, Hawaii is unique, Hawaii is all about aloha," Aiona said. "If we talk about the substance of our campaign, nobody, and I mean nobody, will beat us."

   Aiona has served eight years as lieutenant governor, a post that most Hawaii political observers regard as holding little power and few responsibilities. He has been a loyal deputy to Lingle, who in 2002 became the first Republican to be elected governor in four decades. But like elsewhere in the nation, the state's tourism-driven economy and government services have suffered in the last two years. Thus, Aiona's chances could be affected to the extent voters blame Lingle, and by extension Aiona. Aiona or his allies are virtually certain to attempt to paint Abercrombie as a liberal and a big spender, and assert that Hawaii needs a GOP governor to balance a state Legislature that remains firmly in Democratic hands. "It's about ensuring that we bring balance, integrity and good judgment to government," Aiona said. "The people of Hawaii want to have that hope and that future, and we are that hope and that future for the state of Hawaii."

   The lieutenant governor also may focus attention on same-sex civil unions, the subject of controversial state legislation earlier this year that he strongly opposes and Abercrombie just as strongly supports.

Abercrombie, 72, is likely to move quickly to bring Hannemann's array of supporters on board, ranging from labor unions to business groups that backed the former mayor. However, Abercrombie may face some resistance from Hannemann supporters who, like their candidate, opposed the civil unions measure.

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