Posted on 07/12/2014 11:12:36 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued
The Republican nominee for governor of Hawaii stepped to the podium at a fundraiser for the state GOP, greeted by cheers and a standing ovation. Duke Aiona is the man who "will win, can win," a state senator insisted as he introduced the nominee. And the 200 donors and supporters in the audience apparently agreed.
"I feel so confident right now," Aiona said in a pavilion lit by tiki torches, nestled in a valley on Oahu's North Shore. "This is a statement in and of itself, to have so many people here supporting the Republican Party."
It's an odd sentiment from a GOP pol in one of America's most Democratic-leaning states. Indeed, Hawaii Republicans readily admit they're an endangered species these days: Democrats control the Governor's Mansion, both U.S. Senate seats, and both U.S. House seats. Just one Republican serves in the 25-member state Senate. What's more, this is not Aiona's first try at the governorship: He lost to sitting Gov. Neil Abercrombie by double digits in 2010.
But this year, Abercrombie's unpopularity and a three-way general-election race have combined to open a rare, if narrow, path to a Republican gubernatorial win. Add to the mix that Aiona is a top-tier recruit and has high name ID across the state, and even some Democrats reluctantly acknowledge their problem.
"In the normal course of events, a Republican really shouldn't win," said one Democratic strategist. "But this is decidedly not the normal course of events."
(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...
Abercrombie may lose renomination to Ige. How that will change the dynamics for November, I’m not sure. Supposedly Ige was polling worse.
Hopefully Aiona is much more conservative than Lingle. I don't know much about him but I recall liking him better than her when they were in office together.
Linda Lingle, Hawaii's version of Christie Todd Whitman.
Since she was a former Governor, you'd think she'd at least run a competitive U.S. Senate race, but I recall that the RAT cruised to victory against her.
Her Senate race was a rematch of the 2002 Governor’s race. Epic fiasco.
Just as an aside, I still strongly favor Hawaiian independence (or a move to commonwealth status). Sending 4 Communists to DC, especially the 2 Senators, is appalling. To have that sort of disproportionate impact in our national decisionmaking (let alone having Inouye formerly close in line to the Presidency) is simply wrong, especially for a small island group thousands of miles from the mainland. If Alaska ever went full-on communist, I’d make the same argument for cutting them loose.
I say, “Right on!”
The GOP should back them.
If the natives win, Democrats immediately lose two Socialist senators and two Socialist congressman.
Plus, we get the added fun of Obama “preserving the Union” by ordering a military occupation of his home state.
I’m amazed at how many South Park plots come to pass.
Lingle had a tough road winning with Obama at the top of the ticket. She did worse than I thought she would though, running less than 10 points higher than Romney, about the same as Scott Brown did, less than 9 points higher. I was hoping both would do better.
It the open seat was in 2010, I think she’d have won.
Here’s to hoping Aiona and Djou can win. I’m still afraid Hannemann will cost Aiona. Too bad we’re not running a decent candidate for Senate.
I’ll all for anything to help get rid of rat Senators. I don’t see Hawaiian Independence happening though, it’s a fringe movement right now.
That’s why I support Scottish Independence, Scotland would be a disaster but it would free England and Wales from a solid socialist voting bloc. Same reason I support Quebec Independence
Interesting idea, but I’ll bet people are worried about the loss of tax revenue in that case.
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