Honolulu Star-Advertiser: HAWAII - SENATE (Hirono +22)

[TroyD]

Oct 29, 2012

Honolulu Star-Advertiser - Hirono +22

Hirono (D) 57

Lingle (R) 35

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U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono has a double-digit cushion over former Gov. Linda Lingle for U.S. Senate, a gap that has remained constant since the Hawaii Poll began tracking the campaign in May 2011.

The polling suggests that many voters made their choice soon after Hirono, a Demo­crat, and Lingle, a Republican, were mentioned as potential candidates to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii. Millions of dollars spent on advertising, plus five debates and dozens of personal appearances across the state have apparently not changed the trajectory.

Hirono leads Lingle 57 percent to 35 percent, a 22-point gap that is identical to a Hawaii Poll taken in May 2011. Hirono was ahead of Lingle by 20 points in February and 19 points in July.

Political analysts had predicted that the gap would likely shrink after the August primary, but they might have underestimated Lingle's hurdle. The former governor, who left office two years ago with low job approval ratings, has been unable to separate herself from the more conservative national Republicans who want to take control of the Senate and defeat Hawaii-born President Barack Obama.

Obama's job approval rating in Hawaii is 68 percent, the poll shows.

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More:

http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20121029__Hirono_leads_Lingle_in_US_Senate_race_by_22point_margin.html

[Hippo_Tron]

1. Much harder to get elected Senator from a state that's overwhelmingly dominated by the other party

Than it is to get elected Governor.

Ben Nelson found this out when he got trounced the first time he ran for Senate in 1996, even though he had very high approval ratings as Governor of Nebraska.