Talk about bad timing.

As Hawai'i confronts some of its toughest economic problems in recent memory, Gov. Linda Lingle will take a 12-day road trip that includes a six-state campaign swing for John McCain and her friend and fellow governor, Sarah Palin.

While she's gone, the problems will remain behind: A budget shortfall that will force steep cuts in government operations; the highest unemployment rate in six years; a shrinking economy possibly headed for recession; and major declines in visitor arrivals.

In fact, the August visitor arrival numbers are expected to be made public around the time Lingle is traveling — and they'll show another scary double-digit decline.

These problems will cut broadly and deeply into the lives of most Hawai'i residents. The hands-on, visible leadership of our governor is needed now more than ever.

While Lingle has some state business planned — meetings with business leaders at Forbes magazine and with Citigroup Inc. to discuss the state's bond sales — it's discouraging that most of her time will be spent campaigning for McCain/Palin.

Lingle says she can raise Hawai'i's profile during her appearances. That may be.

But certainly there are more effective ways to promote Hawai'i than by campaigning for a presidential candidate.

McCain announced plans to suspend his campaign and return to work in Washington to deal with the Wall Street bailout crisis. Lingle should follow his lead.