Lingle campaign spending nears total for '98 election
By Lynda Arakawa and Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Republican gubernatorial front-runner Linda Lingle has already spent nearly as much money as she did in the entire 1998 election, according to campaign spending reports filed yesterday.
Lingle's campaign spending report shows she has spent about $3 million so far in the governor's race, while she spent about $3.16 million for her campaign against Gov. Ben Cayetano in 1998.
Advertiser library photos
Lingle is clearly continuing to lead the gubernatorial candidates in campaign money. She raised nearly $3.1 million in the campaign, including $861,000 raised in the past two months. Because she also had money left over from her 1998 campaign, Lingle had more than $533,000 as of last Friday.
The Linda Lingle campaign for governor has spent about $3 million so far.
Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono has spent about $1 million on her campaign.
By comparison, Democratic gubernatorial front-runner Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono raised about $278,000 in the past two months, bringing her fund-raising total to about $1.1 million. She spent about $1 million in the campaign and had more than $112,000 on hand.
Manoa Rep. Ed Case, another Democratic gubernatorial candidate, raised about $628,000, spent $554,000 and had about $78,000 on hand. Businessman and former state legislator D.G. "Andy" Anderson raised about $707,000, spent $699,000 and had $7,626 left.
John Carroll, Republican gubernatorial candidate and former state legislator, did not file his campaign spending report by yesterday's deadline. Mike Peters, executive director of Carroll's campaign, said the report will be turned in today, and that Carroll has raised about $61,000, spent $29,000 and had about $1,100 left.
Lingle yesterday noted that she did not sign a pledge this time to stay within the voluntary state campaign spending limits, which means she can allocate her spending differently. In 1998 Lingle did sign such a pledge, and it limited the amount she could spend.
"Also, the level of support for my campaign has been so much greater than last time at a much earlier stage," she said. "Last time I started out not being very well known and people not believing I could win (in contrast) to this time people believing I could win, and I started out with such a high name recognition."
Lingle earlier estimated she would spend about $5 million in this election, but yesterday said she believes she will actually spend about $4.5 million. The campaign has been successful in getting food and other supplies donated, which means less cash is required, and the campaign has been able to negotiate better prices with some media outlets, she said.
Lingle said about 25 percent of her contributions are from out of state, or about the same proportion as her out-of-state contributions during the last reporting period.
Hirono said she will spend her money carefully and work "reaching out to regular people."
"The money is coming in steadily and we're working hard, and we're going to raise the money we need to get out message out," Hirono said.
Considering the amount Lingle has spent so far, "I'm glad that I'm only 12 points behind," Hirono said, referring to recent polls. "This is why I know that this election is not going to be won by slick ads and bento lunches. It's going to be won by hard work and us pulling together."
Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustee Clayton Hee raised about $215,000, the most of the Democratic lieutenant governor candidates. He had about $50,000 on hand. State Sen. Matt Matsunaga raised about $126,000 and had about $20,000 left. Board of Education member Donna Ikeda raised about $101,000 and reported having about $58,000 left.
Former CNN journalist Dalton Tanonaka leads the Republican lieutenant governor candidates, having raised about $218,000. He had about $34,000 left. Retired judge James "Duke" Aiona has raised about $115,000 and reported having about $21,000 left over. Former state legislator Cam Cavasso raised about $51,000 and reported a balance of about $10,000.
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070. Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
