U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, Hawai'i's most prominent Democrat, has formally joined the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Inouye has been chosen to lead a national steering committee of military veterans for Clinton. This could help Clinton with veterans nationally and may also offset the popularity of Hawai'i-born U.S. Sen. Barack Obama among Democrats in the Islands.

Inouye, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in World War II, where he lost his right arm in battle, will also advise the Clinton campaign on veterans' policy issues.

"She has been a tireless advocate for our soldiers and veterans, fighting for life-saving body armor when they deploy, and the healthcare and benefits they deserve when they return home," Inouye said in a statement released yesterday by the Clinton campaign.

"My support of Hillary Clinton does not take away from, or speak any less of, the other Democratic presidential candidates. They are all outstanding leaders, and, in fact, some are personal family friends. There is an excitement present among Democrats as we look ahead to the presidential campaign, and a retaking of the White House on behalf of working families in 2008. I look forward to a vigorous campaign, and I believe Hillary Clinton is the best prepared to deal with the challenges facing our nation at home and abroad."

Inouye is the second top Hawai'i Democrat to take a public role in the Clinton campaign. Earlier this month, state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), was named Hawai'i co-chair of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Hillary.

Hawai'i has received some early national attention in the presidential campaign because of Obama, who was born in Hawai'i, graduated from Punahou School and has family ties that bring him back to the Islands. U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, has backed Obama, as have several state lawmakers.

Hawai'i activists for Obama, an Illinois Democrat, have been the most publicly visible so far, but do not carry the same weight within the party as Inouye.

"This is going to be two heavyweights hitting it out," Alex Santiago, a former state Democratic party chairman and state representative, said of Clinton and Obama. "It's going to be interesting to see how the party reacts to this one."

POWERFUL SUPPORT

Mike McCartney, the state Democratic party's chairman, said Inouye's endorsement of Clinton, a New York Democrat, could have a powerful impact on other Democrats within the party. Inouye endorsed the eventual nominee, U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., before the 2004 presidential primaries and was also co-chair of Kerry's national veterans' steering committee.

McCartney said he expects to see other prominent Democrats come out for Clinton, Obama and former North Carolina senator John Edwards. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, is also popular among anti-war and liberal activists, especially on the Neighbor Islands.

"For us, we see it as a good thing," he said. "Democrats like competition. We've never shied away from it."

Hawai'i's caucuses have not traditionally been a factor in presidential politics, where most of the attention has been on early caucus and primary states such as Iowa and New Hampshire and the states involved in what has been known as Super Tuesday in March. But several states, including Hawai'i, have moved up their caucuses or primaries next year in the hopes of becoming more relevant, redrawing the campaign map.

Hawai'i's Democratic caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 19, compared to Feb. 24 in 2004, when Kerry narrowly defeated Kucinich.

ALL EYES ON HAWAI'I

A week might not make that much of a difference given that several states, most importantly California, have scheduled primaries for Feb. 5 — the new Super Tuesday. But the earlier date and Obama's Hawai'i-roots might give the state more cache if no clear frontrunner has been established.

"I think two or three candidates are going to split the vote on Feb. 5, so all eyes are going to be on Hawai'i and Wisconsin on the 19th," McCartney said. "I think, strategically, it's a good thing to do it on that day."

Former state representative Brian Schatz, who has been active in the Obama campaign in the Islands, said he would have liked to have Inouye on his side but still believes Obama will have the edge.

"We feel we have the most well-organized and energized presidential campaign in two or three decades in Hawai'i," Schatz said.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.