Hirono confident she'll unite party to win the big one

By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer

With ID in hand, Mazie Hirono shows up to vote at Star of the Sea Schools in yesterday's primary election that made her the Democratic nominee for governor. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser

State Rep. Ed Case made an impressive showing, with D.G. "Andy" Anderson trailing to round out the top three in the Democratic primary.

Hirono — a loyal Democrat backed by the unions — said she knew she could bring out the party's strongest supporters even on a day when many residents didn't take the time to vote.

From early on, Hirono stuck to her message and campaign theme:

"I have the record and the experience," she said. "I am the person with the record that can bring about positive change for Hawai'i."

After the polls closed and before any vote counts were in, Hirono had gathered the largest crowd — some 250 people — at her post-primary party at the Neal Blaisdell Center.

"I'm very optimistic," Hirono said. "We'll get through and we are going to emerge victorious tonight and move on to victory in November."

Hirono described the race as "hard-fought" but said the heated contest won't stop supporters of all the challengers from rallying around the Democrat nominee who will challenge Republican favorite Linda Lingle in the Nov. 5 general election. "We Democrats are going to come together. I have no doubt."

Hirono, 54, served as lieutenant governor for the past eight years under Gov. Ben Cayetano. An attorney, she has spent most of her career working in government and serving at the Legislature.

Case, 49, moved closer to a contender's position as the race entered its final days. He spent the last eight years representing the Manoa area and building a reputation as an independent Democrat unafraid of making changes that rankle some of the traditional stalwarts of the party.

Supporters felt "tremendous momentum" in the last days and were counting on people who voted yesterday, Case said. The early returns showed him closer than many predicted. Case's supporters turned out on the second floor of Ward Centre, where A Pacific Cafe used to be. He spent the day sign-waving and thanking supporters after voting absentee earlier.

Anderson, 72, a businessman and former state senator, tried to convince Democrats that he should lead them despite a long history as a key figure in the local Republican Party.

His supporters gathered last night at the Varsity building on University Avenue, where shortly after the first tallies were reported the candidate spoke to supporters and said the numbers showed he had lost the race.

"I don't think it will change that much and so I think that's it," Anderson said. "I knew going in, win or lose, I was going to raise the bar on issues."

Anderson said he knew that proposing a state lottery to finance education was risky. "I knew that was a roll of the dice. But I felt that strongly about the kids and I would do it again," he said.