No Hawai'i incumbent who has served a full term in Congress has lost a re-election bid since statehood.

Dan Boylan, a history professor at the University of Hawai'i-West O'ahu, said Hawai'i incumbents in Congress have become as "safe as money in Chase Manhattan."

Joseph Ferreira, who is retired and lives in Kalihi Valley, said he is comfortable with Abercrombie. "He has supported the military, and I feel he has contributed to the economy," he said.

Ferreira also said he was concerned about a complaint that Tanonaka allegedly hid outside loans to his 2002 campaign for lieutenant governor, although he said it was not a significant factor in his decision.

Tanonaka has denied the allegations, which are being reviewed by the city prosecutor's office.

"He has a cloud hanging over him that has been sort of a distraction," Ferreira said.

Abercrombie, who is seeking an eighth full term, said he would "keep running right through the tape next Tuesday."

"This poll shows that people have made a judgment about my opponent," he said.

According to the poll, 7.5 percent of urban Honolulu voters had not yet settled on a candidate. The Hawai'i Poll involved 600 voters overall, but the findings for the congressional races were based on smaller samples of 263 voters in urban Honolulu and 318 voters in rural O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands.

Tanonaka is asking voters to watch his two debates with Abercrombie this week — tomorrow on PBS Hawai'i and Wednesday with the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs on KHON, before making up their minds. The OHA forum also is scheduled to include Case and Gabbard.

"I'm confident that by Election Day things will be different," Tanonaka said. He said his supporters have continued to stand by him, and he again dismissed the complaints as politically motivated.

The complaint regarding his lieutenant governor's campaign was filed by his former campaign manager, who describes himself as a Republican, while a second complaint questioning loans to his congressional campaign was filed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington, D.C.

Former Republican Congresswoman Pat Saiki, who defeated Abercrombie in 1986, called the complaints the "worst kind of politics."

"Everyone should understand that these measures are being taken by an opponent doing everything in his power not to lose," Saiki said in a statement released by the Tanonaka campaign.

Abercrombie campaign officials have said the congressman is not behind the complaints.

The Hawai'i Poll found that President Bush and Sen. John Kerry are deadlocked in Hawai'i, a traditionally Democratic state when it comes to presidential politics. But Bush's strong showing here does not appear to be helping the Republican candidates for Congress.

Virginia Mason, a civilian Army employee who lives in Volcano on the Big Island, said she remains undecided in the Case-Gabbard race but is leaning strongly toward Case.

She said she had seen a Gabbard flier and his signs and television commercials, but feels she does not yet know enough about him.

"I've been pretty happy with what Case has been doing," Mason said.

Case, who is campaigning for a second full term after winning special elections to replace the late Patsy Mink, said the poll numbers reflect broad support across the district.

"It shows that the hard work has paid off," Case said.

The poll found that 12 percent of rural O'ahu and Neighbor Island voters had not committed to either candidate, leaving Gabbard some room to narrow Case's advantage.

Gabbard, in a statement, said he is doing better in other polls taken a few days after the Hawai'i Poll. He said he can feel support building as he campaigns.

"We don't think the poll reflects the actual status of the race right now," Gabbard said. "Things are moving very quickly in our direction."