State Democrats and Republicans held unity rallies today to get their troops

ready for the November elections.

The Democrats had an early breakfast at the Ala Moana Hotel where Maya

Soetoro-Ng, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's sister, and other prominent Democrats

urged activists to improve on the record low voter turnout at Saturday's

primary.

Over lunch at Hawaii Republican Party headquarters, Gov. Linda Lingle

pointed to Mayor Mufi Hannemann's falling short of winning enough votes for

re-election in the primary as an example for Republican challengers that

nothing in politics is inevitable.

In addition to the political campaigns, voters in November will consider a

ballot question on a $3.7 billion mass transit project and decide whether to

hold a constitutional convention.

State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), told

Democrats to stand with union leaders and Native Hawaiian activists in

opposition to a constitutional convention.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona urged Republicans to back a constitutional

convention as a way to fight the status quo of the Democratic-controlled

state Legislature.