In Hawaii, intraparty feud may cost Democrats a seat in Congress

[n2doc]

By Philip Rucker
Friday, May 7, 2010
HONOLULU -- Across the country, Democrats are on the defense, laboring to put out political fires sparked by angry voters and emboldened Republicans. Even Hawaii, the bluest of blue states, where a Democratic machine has controlled politics for the five decades since statehood, has become a dangerous hot spot for the party in power.

But here's the catch: The Democrats started this fire themselves.

Democrats here might lose a House seat in a special election this month because of a feud between two candidates that has inflamed tensions within Hawaii's ethnic voting blocs and between the state's Democratic establishment and the party's national leaders.

The result could be a victory by plurality for the GOP candidate. That would upend Hawaii's political order and, like the recent Senate race in Massachusetts, simultaneously hand Republicans a compelling narrative of Democratic defeat -- this time in President Obama's birthplace.

"It's a nightmare for Democrats," said Dan Boylan, a University of Hawaii history professor.

There is no primary to replace Neil Abercrombie, a 10-term congressman who resigned to run for governor. So the race in Hawaii's 1st Congressional District will be decided in a winner-takes-all election on May 22.

more

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/06/AR2010050602869.html

I sure miss Dr. Dean's leadership....

[skipos]

1. I guess neither of these candidates gives a shit about keeping the seat in Dem hands

The ego is a powerful thing.

[madfloridian]

2. So we only go with the party leadership's choice?

This happens every time someone else wants to run in a primary.

The party handpicks like they did in Ohio between Brunner and what's his name....and the progressive is supposed to back out and be a good child.

[n2doc]

3. Case is no progressive n/t

[madfloridian]

6. That's what I am saying.

The other seems to be more so.

Case is the pick of the party leaders.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Neither of them are. Hawaii is very conservative for a blue state

[Sebastian Doyle]

4. Whomever the DLC shill is needs to back the fuck out now and sit down.

And who might that be......

Case, a cousin of AOL founder Steve Case, has solid name recognition, having represented Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District from 2002 to 2007. He says he's receiving strategic help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, although the DCCC has not publicly endorsed him.

Right wing corporate connections? Check.

"Strategic" help from a DLC-infected body? Check.

Yeah, I know who I'd vote for. Not him.

[gratuitous]

5. Lose it in May, reclaim it in November

No big whoop, except to the media chuckleheads trying to peddle one of their favorite narratives: Democrats in disarray.

[bluestateguy]

7. You can thank ponytail man Neil Abercrombie for this mess

Why he felt the need to resign--and cost us a vote on HCR--just to run for governor is beyond me. Congressmen and senators run for governor all the time without resigning in the middle of their term.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

9. It may be the law in Hawaii. Abercrombie may also have seen it as an integrity issue

Neil is funny that way