Posted on: Friday, May 31, 2002

Lingle says no change in strategy

•	Mayor Harris withdraws from governor's race
•	Mayor's campaign troubled from start
•	Mayoral hopefuls left without a race
•	Hirono back in race for governor
•	Campaign investigation made 'bad publicity'
•	Democrats scramble to move into position
•	Reshaping Hawai'i's political landscape:
•	Major events in Jeremy Harris' effort to run for governor
•	Lee Cataluna: Democrats search for real leader
•	Interactive/Multimedia: Video of Harris announcement (courtesy of KHNL-News8) Do you think the mayor made the right decision? Take our survey. Join our discussion. • Submit a letter to the editor.

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Jeremy Harris' contention that he couldn't beat Republican gubernatorial candidate Linda Lingle handed the GOP a huge practical and psychological victory yesterday, but Lingle insisted the departure of the leading Democratic candidate would have little effect on her campaign.

From a friend's home in Kula, Maui, where she watched the Harris announcement on television, and with the general election still six months away, Lingle said the Republican Party will stick to its game plan in garnering grassroots support.

"No matter what everyone is saying, I still consider myself an underdog because I'm a Republican," she said. "And that's how we perceive ourselves, and that's how we'll stay focused."

Lingle, a former Maui mayor, was considered the early frontrunner in the 1998 gubernatorial election before she lost to Gov. Ben Cayetano by 5,000 votes.

"Our campaign remains unchanged and focused on making life better for the people of Hawai'i," said Lingle, who was attending fund-raisers on Maui. "And we're going to continue on with our statewide grassroots campaign in preparation on whoever wins the Democratic primary."

Lingle says Harris' decision doesn't affect her campaign because she doesn't know who will win the Democratic primary.

"It doesn't matter who enters the race, because it doesn't change my strategy ... we'll just continue what we're doing, focusing on how to make the schools better and create more jobs, not wait to see who's in and out of the race," she said.

Lingle said it was clear Harris' decision was a difficult one for him.

"You do have to empathize with his followers who have been helping him all these years" she said.

On O'ahu, reaction at Lingle's campaign headquarters was also subdued, as campaign communications director Lenny Klompus and other staff members watched Harris' announcement in his office behind closed doors.

Reacting to Harris' statement that he was 22 points behind Lingle in his campaign polling, Lingle said her polls taken earlier this year had found her "way ahead" of Harris and other gubernatorial candidates.

But she also would not speculate if there were any hidden reason for the mayor's decision, particularly his legal troubles over allegations of campaign fund-raising violations.

"I don't think (Harris) would make that up," Lingle said about his poll numbers. "I have to take his statement for what it is."

When asked whether Harris' pulling out indicated a political party in disarray, Lingle responded: "I guess the voters will have to make that kind of decision."

State Republican Party executive director Micah Kane at GOP headquarters said party leaders got a hint of Harris' decision only a few hours before his 4 p.m. press conference.

"Is this going to help us? I sure hope so," Kane said. "But we're not going to gloat. We're going to stay humble and stay focused. The race is still six months away, and we're going to work very hard regardless of what the polls have said so far."

John Carroll, who is running against Lingle in the GOP primary, said he expects some of Harris' supporters to support his campaign because "we were aligned with Harris on certain issues."