Democrats still playing catch-up

By Frank Oliveri
Advertiser Washington Bureau

Hundreds of Republicans packed a Hilton Hawaiian Village ballroom in Waikiki last October, hoping to meet President Bush, pose for pictures, hear a few words and have a meal.

Some contributed $1,000 or $2,000, with the larger donation promising a better seat and a chance to meet Bush. In less than two hours, the Bush campaign amassed $700,000.

That made up the lion's share of the $748,000 Bush raised through the end of last year. And that amount is five times more than all the Democratic candidates combined have raised.

Experts said the disparity reflects growing Republican organizational strength in the state.

But they also said it's too early to judge the strength of the Democrats' fund raising, traditionally weaker than that of Republicans nationally, because the party has not yet unified behind one candidate.

And they argue that Democratic front-runner Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts only recently began organizing in the state.

"We are starting to get our grass-roots campaign funding going now," said Alex Santiago, chairman of the Democratic Party in Hawai'i.

Hawai'i's Democratic caucus is Feb. 24, when Democrats will battle for the state's 29 delegates. The state convention is May 30.

Hawai'i's four electoral votes went to Al Gore in 2000. Ronald Reagan was the last Republican presidential candidate to carry the state when he ran in 1984 for re-election to a second term.

Both Democrats and Republicans expect a close national presidential contest, making general election results in each state race important. Based on their organization and money-raising to date, Republicans say they have a shot at taking Hawai'i.

"People have been genuinely shocked that we have raised so much," said Miriam Hellreich, a national committeewoman for the Republican Party based in Hawai'i.

As of Dec. 31, Bush had raised $748,086 compared with a total $147,601 raised by Kerry, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, and retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, who quit the race Wednesday.

Dean is the top fund-raiser among the Democrats, having raised $61,496. Edwards raised $42,870, while Kerry raised only $11,900 from 15 contributors. Several of Kerry's donations have come from attorneys. Al Sharpton received $185.

Kucinich, who raised $16,950, is the only Democrat to visit Hawai'i as a candidate. Dean was in Hawai'i in November for the repatriation of his brother's remains from Vietnam but did not campaign. Tight early primary races and geography have prevented most candidates from visiting Hawai'i, experts said.

Hellreich, the national GOP committeewoman, said the average donation Bush has received nationally is about $146. But an analysis of Hawai'i contribution data showed the average Republican contribution in the state is $1,296.50.

Richard Port, a retiree who is running Kerry's campaign here, said he started organizing his team in December. Port has given $500 of his own money to the campaign. "We're making sure we win delegates," he said.

Port said Hawai'i is one of the most unionized states in the country, which bodes well for Kerry, who appears to be scooping up labor support across the nation.

Port said volunteers will focus on reaching out to people on a one-on-one basis and asking those individuals to reach out to their friends.

Santiago said Democrats in Hawai'i would focus their efforts more on getting out the vote than on raising money. And he had harsh words for GOP fund-raising efforts.

"I'm betting and hoping this obscene money-generated political grab is going to be seen by the people of Hawai'i for what it is: not about people, but an effort to buy the state," he said. "We have 23,000 card-carrying Democrats. We will make sure they are all invited to the caucuses, and we will build from there."

Sen. Daniel Inouye said state Democrats will be motivated by something else — fear.

"I believe you will find the party better organized this time around," said Inouye, who is up for re-election in November. "For one thing, the local Legislature feels threatened. Whenever you are threatened, you seem to fight better."

Inouye said Republicans have said publicly that they are targeting certain legislators.

"Those things are double-edged," he said. "It frightens the candidate but it can translate into greater effort."

A large part of the organizational success Republicans are enjoying in Hawai'i results from Gov. Linda Lingle, who is leading Bush's efforts here. Two years ago, Lingle became the first Republican to hold the governor's seat since 1962 after winning the election by 4 percent.

"Structurally, it does say something about the Republican Party in the state," Larry Noble of the Center for Responsive Politics said of GOP strength. "Whether Hawai'i is going Republican is another question."

Republicans hold only 15 of the 51 seats in the state House and just five of the 25 seats in the state Senate. Noble said Republicans will make the case that raising money successfully means there is great support for Republicans in Hawai'i.

"At the end of the day, they need to produce not only money, but votes," he said. "It is troublesome for the Democratic Party if it indicates a weakness in voter mobilization."

Voter turnout becomes hugely important for Democrats, Noble said, because they are at a financial disadvantage.

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