When Ed Case gave up his safe seat in Congress three years ago to challenge U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in the Democratic primary, his decision sent a surge of electricity through the party's establishment.

His announcement yesterday that he will run for Congress in 2010 was much more conventional. He argued that his experience and relationships in Washington, D.C., would give him an advantage over potential challengers.

In an e-mail to his supporters and a video message posted on his campaign Web site, Case said U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie's choice to leave his 1st Congressional District seat in urban Honolulu to run for governor will cause "a huge puka" in the delegation at a critical time for the state and country.

Case, who represented the 2nd Congressional District in rural O'ahu and the Neighbor Islands for five years, said he wanted to continue his public service in the nation's capital.

"I've been there. I've done it. Hawai'i needs good representation in Washington. I can use my seniority, experience and relationships there from day one and pick up and keep going," Case said in an interview. "Nobody else has that experience mix."

Case is the first of what could be several Democrats to step up to replace Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, for a rare open congressional seat. State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, D-21st (Nanakuli, Makaha), Honolulu City Councilman Duke Bainum, and Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann have considered potential campaigns. Hannemann and Hanabusa are also thinking about running for governor.

Hannemann, through a spokesman, said any announcement by other candidates would have no bearing on his decision. Hanabusa, through a spokesman, would not comment.

Bainum said yesterday that his supporters have been encouraging him to consider a run for Congress, citing his background in finance and medicine and his independence. "I think I owe it to the people who have asked me to at least take a serious look at that opening," he said.

Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou, who is running for the congressional seat as a Republican, described Case as a "decent enough fellow" and welcomed the competition.

"I look forward to engaging Ed on the issues," he said, adding that Case would likely have to make it through a difficult primary. "I've always said that, for me, my campaign has been about bringing a sense of accountability and responsibility back to the federal government."

DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT

The 1st District, which covers urban Honolulu from Hawai'i Kai to Mililani Town, is considered the more conservative of the state's two congressional districts. But, like most of the state, the district's voters are predominantly Democrat and have been loyal to the liberal Abercrombie for two decades.

Case, as a moderate who has shown independence from establishment Democrats, may draw solid support in East Honolulu and downtown neighborhoods that could give him an edge in both the primary against other Democrats and a general election matchup against Djou. Kalihi, Pearl City and Waipahu neighborhoods are more traditionally Democratic, but Mililani Town and 'Ewa Beach are swing districts that can be highly competitive.

Case said he hopes to raise at least $1 million but may have to set the bar higher if there is a competitive primary. Djou has already raised about $150,000.

Both Case and Djou said the economy will likely be the dominant issue of the campaign.

"He's a good vote-getter. He's a strong candidate," Neal Milner, a University of Hawai'i-Manoa ombudsman and political analyst, said of Case. "There are certainly differences between the two districts, but the important thing is they are both overwhelmingly Democratic."

Case had been considering whether to run for governor or Congress, and his longtime goal has been the U.S. Senate. Case left his 2nd District seat for an unsuccessful campaign against Akaka in the primary for Senate in 2006.

"He likes being in Washington. He likes being where the action is, and I think he misses it," Milner said. "I don't think it was ever so much him wanting to leave Congress, to leave the House of Representatives, as it was to take a shot at winning a U.S. Senate seat.

"So I think he's back where he would prefer to be."

Abercrombie, who announced his campaign for governor earlier this month, said Case did not seek his advice or endorsement.

"He's a formidable candidate, but we've got a very strong bench of Democrats, and whoever emerges from the primary, I'm sure I'm going to be in very strong support of no matter who he or she is," he said. "I will certainly work with whoever it is to effect President Obama's agenda and to be supportive of the delegation and work with the delegation as governor if I'm given that opportunity."

FISSURES IN PARTY

Abercrombie, like much of the party's establishment, backed Akaka three years ago and characterized Case's challenge at the time as "a test of whether Hawai'i is still Hawai'i."

Case's primary against Akaka upset many traditional Democrats, and the fractures within the party have not entirely healed. But if Case were to win the primary for Congress next year, party loyalists would likely line up behind him against Djou.

"These are the most difficult times that we've ever faced since statehood, and I think people are going to be making up their minds on the proposition of 'who's on my side' and 'who's going to stick with me,' " Abercrombie said.

"Let me put it this way, this state was overwhelmingly for Barack Obama. My district was overwhelmingly for Barack Obama. We have an excellent bench of candidates — of whom Ed is one, there are several others who are thinking about the possibility of running for that seat — I'll certainly be supporting whoever emerges from that primary.

"That person is going to be elected."

Willes Lee, the state's GOP chairman, took a dig at Case's ambition. "It is not a surprise that Ed Case jumped in this race. He said he was the best to represent (Congressional District 2), the best for U.S. Senate, now he thinks he is best for (Congressional District 1) . He may just as well have said he was best to be governor," he said.

"Ed will run for anything and everything until he wins something."

TALK STORY AND TWEETS

Case, an attorney who lives in Kane'ohe with his wife, Audrey, said he would evaluate a future campaign for Senate depending on the circumstances of when a vacancy occurs. He has said he would not run against U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, D-Hawai'i, who is up for re-election in 2010. Akaka is not up for re-election until 2012.

Case has made extensive use of electronic media in his earlier campaigns, along with "talk story" sessions where voters could speak to him in person. He said one luxury, compared to previous campaigns, is that he will have 18 months before the primary to talk with voters in the district.

In December, Case asked his supporters via e-mail newsletter whether he should run for Congress or governor. He made his formal announcement yesterday in an e-mail, with an entry on the social-media Web site Twitter, and on video on his campaign Web site. He did not hold a traditional news conference but conducted interviews with the news media.

"You're able to reach many people immediately, which is what people want now," he said of electronic and digital media. "The first goal is personal one-on-one. After that, it's all about communication and I think the rule of politics is you communicate with people in the means that they are the most comfortable with."