Case Still Arguing Lingle Could Beat Hirono
Updated 5:00 p.m.
Less than a week before former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle entered the Senate race in Hawaii, former Democratic Rep. Ed Case warned that the former Republican governor could win if Hawaii Democrats nominate his primary opponent.
Case, who is also running for the Senate, doubled down on his electability pitch in an interview with Hotline On Call last Thursday, arguing that Hawaii voters want change and there is a real risk they will choose a Republican if not offered a Democrat who can chart a new course.
"The question is, presented a change with an R and a status quo Democrat, where are the voters of Hawai'i going to go?" Case said, before Lingle's announcement. "I think the voters are perfectly capable of selecting the Republican candidate."
Hirono lost to Lingle in the 2002 governor's race, after beating Case in the primary that year.
Case's message has become central in his primary campaign against Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono. He irritated national Democrats earlier this year when he released a poll showing himself leading Republican Linda Lingle but Hirono losing to the former governor. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee immediately pushed back, pointing to their own poll showing Hirono winning against Lingle.
The poll, conducted by Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, showed Lingle's job approval at just 40 percent with 56 percent of voters disapproving. Lingle trailed in a head-to-head with Congresswoman Hirono, 54 to 35 percent.
When asked about his decision to release his own poll indicating Lingle's strength in a general election, Case did not back down.
"I think what [DSCC executive director] Guy's [Cecil] concern was, in my releasing the poll, was that it said a Republican could beat a Democrat in Hawaii and of course, from his perspective, that was not something he wanted publicized," Case said.
But Case also highlighted Lingle's vulnerabilities in the interview, and said that he planned to tie her to the more conservative elements within the Republican party, including Sarah Palin (who Lingle introduced at the 2008 Republican National Convention) and George W. Bush, two unpopular figures in the Aloha State. He released a statement today accusing Lingle of "desert[ing] Hawai'i at crucial times to campaign for mainland Republicans."
Case won't likely be getting any support from the Democratic establishment -- at least in Hawaii.
Last week, Hirono received the public support of the most well-liked Democrat in the state, Sen. Daniel Inouye. While Inouye stopped short of officially endorsing Hirono, he made clear that he prefers the congresswoman over Case, and is committed to voting for her.
It's not surprising that Inouye is behind the 2nd District congresswoman. His relationship with Case isn't warm: The former congressman's decision to challenge Sen. Daniel Akaka in the 2006 Democratic primary ruffled a lot of feathers in the Democratic establishment, which unofficially, counts Inouye as its leader. Case apologized to Inouye earlier this year for any hard feelings, but Inouye offered Honolulu Civil Beat this blunt assessment of his relationship with Case earlier this week: "He knows why I'm not too happy with him."
"I can't speak for Sen. Inouye as to why he's made some of the decisions he's made," Case told On Call. From my perspective, I don't know that there's much more I can do. The voters have my candidacy; Sen. Inouye has expressed his presence. Sooner, or later I'm going to get to a campaign with my opponent."
But Case acknowledged, once again, that running in 2006 was a mistake.
"That race was a mistake," Case said Thursday. "It was the wrong decision and I regret it."
Julie Sobel contributed to this report.
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus