Honolulu mayoral candidate Duke Bainum, with wife Jennifer Toma Bainum, thanks his supporters. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

Mufi Hannemann, moving on to a runoff with Bainum, welcomes six extra weeks of campaigning. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Bainum and Hannemann each said they would work hard to win new votes in the runoff, when Fasi's supporters will likely play decisive roles along with eligible voters who didn't go to the polls yesterday.

"Clearly, it's going to be important to reach out to the other side and to those who supported other candidates," Bainum said, adding that he believed his campaign had strong momentum.

Hannemann said the six extra weeks of campaigning are "just going to make victory so much sweeter when it comes in."

"I know my friends, my family and my supporters do not shy away from hard work, so bring it on!" Hannemann roared to a boisterous crowd gathered near his headquarters at Dole Cannery.

Bainum thanked hundreds of equally fired-up supporters in the parking lot behind his Kapi'olani Boulevard headquarters.

Most analysts predict a higher voter turnout in the general election, and Bainum said he believed that would include many independent-minded people who would support him. But Hannemann said that he sensed a surge in support during recent weeks and that he believed he would attract most of the voters who had backed Fasi.

Hannemann said he would press hard for Bainum to appear with him in more debates, so voters could clearly weigh their choices.

Duke Bainum and his wife, Jennifer, did some last-minute campaigning in Chinatown yesterday. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Mufi Hannemann reached out to Tabitha Lorusso, 11, and her mother, Dina Aquino, at John Dominis Restaurant yesterday. Rebecca Breyer • The Honolulu Advertiser

Some voters said that none of the candidates have done a solid job explaining their plans for the city.

"It would be a whole lot nicer if they answered questions directly," said Kailua resident Bruce Ellis. "I'd like them to tell us flat out what they're really going to do. Don't just tell me you are going to make a better road. Tell me how you are going to do it."

Bainum's personal wealth has been a controversial factor in the race, but it has given his campaign a big financial boost and could play a major role in a runoff, experts say.

Bainum's campaign committee has spent a record $2.8 million so far, including more than $1.9 million in personal loans from Bainum. Hannemann's campaign has spent more than $1.2 million raised from supporters.

Hannemann will have to quickly raise a lot more money to remain competitive if Bainum dips further into his own pocket, said Neal Milner, a political science professor at the University of Hawai'i.

But each donor can legally give a mayoral candidate no more than $4,000 during a four-year election period, so Hannemann can't turn to some of his top financial supporters for more.

Hannemann has criticized Bainum for "trying to buy the election" with his personal money, but Bainum says his wealth helps insulate him from the special interests who typically bankroll campaigns.

Bainum said yesterday that he would continue to raise money from donors, but he did not rule out additional self-financing.

Bainum's campaign promises "honest change," while Hannemann has emphasized his local roots and cast himself as experienced and decisive.

Manoa resident Jim Russo, who voted for Bainum, said he believed that Fasi had been an unnecessary distraction in the race and that a runoff should not have been necessary.

"It's time for him to get off the stage, isn't it?" Russo said of Fasi. "He had his time, and this is a different time."

Russo said he believed that Bainum would bring welcome changes to City Hall and that Hannemann seemed to symbolize the political status quo.

"He's been groomed to be a politician since the day he was born," Russo said. "That goes against what I think politics should be all about."

But downtown resident Felise Saycon said that she was far more comfortable with Hannemann, and that she believes a runoff could be good for voters.

"He's a local guy and he's intelligent," she said of Hannemann. "To me, Bainum was more negative."

Saycon said she objected to television commercials in which Bainum posed with a broom, meant to represent sweeping out alleged corruption at City Hall.

"That's not very nice," Saycon said, adding that both candidates should refrain from negative campaigning.

"They should talk about themselves, not put the other guy down," she said.

McCully resident Godfrey Quelnan, who also voted for Hannemann, had similar concerns about negative campaigning. "Let's be honest about it, but no need go slingin' mud at each other," Quelnan said. "I just hope that whoever wins will follow through with what he says he'll do."

Hannemann and Bainum have both pledged to improve maintenance of the city's roads, sewers and parks. Hannemann supports a City Council proposal to repeal the city's condominium leasehold conversion law, while Bainum wants to keep the law intact.

Seven lesser-known candidates drew few votes and were eliminated from the race yesterday: Daniel H. Cunningham, Theodore W. Gibson, Lillian Lai Lam Wang Hong, Paul Manner, Glenn Pinho, Mike Powers and Terrence Koichi Teruya.