Hanabusa leads in financing

By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — State Sen. Colleen Hanabusa enjoys a slight financial edge in the wide-open special election to replace the late Patsy Mink in the 108th Congress, federal campaign finance reports show.

Hanabusa, a Democrat, has raised more than $77,500 and loaned her campaign $100,000, according to copies of finance reports provided by her staff. Hanabusa has not been able to file the reports with the Federal Election Commission because of technical problems, her staff said.

Former state Sen. Matt Matsunaga, another Democrat, has raised more than $96,000, with a large share of the money donated by political action committees affiliated with labor unions. Matsunaga has loaned his campaign an additional $30,000.

U.S. Rep. Ed Case, a Democrat elected in November to serve out the remainder of Mink's term in the 107th Congress, has raised more than $116,500, with most of the money coming from individual contributors.

On the Republican side, state Rep. Barbara Marumoto has raised more than $26,000 and loaned her campaign $25,000, and legislative policy consultant Kimo Kaloi has raised more than $24,000, federal records show. Former state Rep. Bob McDermott did not file a recent report but has collected more than $86,000 since he first started campaigning for Congress in 2001, according to his staff.

Forty-four candidates are on the ballot in Saturday's special election, which was called after Mink was re-elected posthumously in November to serve another term representing rural O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands. McDermott earned 40 percent of the vote in that election.

Federal law requires candidates to file periodic reports detailing campaign donations and spending. The reports for the special election covered mid-November through mid-December. Candidates also must file notices with the FEC within 48 hours of receiving donations of $1,000 or more in the days leading up to the election.

Mink's unexpected death in September and her re-election in November forced the special elections and caused a late scramble among potential replacements. Both local and national political parties opted not to endorse or finance any of the candidates, creating a political free-for-all that has undermined traditional fund-raising strategies.

"It has been a challenge, no question," said Matsunaga, who has been helped by union endorsements and money from organized labor. He said he targeted union money early in his campaign and only recently appealed to past contributors.

Matsunaga believes his main rival Saturday is Case. Both ran unsuccessfully for statewide office — Matsunaga for lieutenant governor, Case for governor — and built name recognition and campaign infrastructure.

Case's status as the incumbent, although brief, gives him momentum. He has raised his campaign money almost exclusively from individual contributors, which is one measure of broad political support.

"We didn't make any conscious decision," Case said. "We were focusing on individual contributors because these are the people we know."

Although Democrats have raised more money and can argue they are more ideologically suited to replace Mink, Republicans like Marumoto and McDermott are optimistic that the election might break their way, especially if the leading Democrats carve up the party's voter base.

Marumoto said it has been difficult raising money when most people are preoccupied with the holidays, not politics.

"I was not anticipating pennies from heaven," she said. "But I think my chances are good."

McDermott is disappointed that he received no local or national help from the GOP after his respectable showing against Mink in a race that most political observers considered a lost cause for Republicans. Although he still believes he can win on Saturday, he blames Gov. Linda Lingle and other party leaders for ignoring his campaign.

"We have a shot," McDermott said. "But I have had such a hard time raising money because they put this stench over me."