Hawaii Dem primary like Connecticut…sort of
John Fund writing for the daily subscription WSJ Political Diary email:
A poll out this week by Rasmussen Research shows Senator Akaka leading Mr. Case, but only by 47% to 45%. Mr. Akaka is ducking debates with his opponent and hoping local union muscle will turn out his core supporters. Rated one of the five worst senators this year by Time magazine, Mr. Akaka is no master of the soundbite. Still, the aged incumbent’s avoidance of debates comes with some peril attached. Honolulu Advertiser columnist David Shapiro says that a debate for the incumbent “could be disastrous if he were to stumble and show his age . . but if Akaka ducks Case, he risks leaving the impression that he doesn’t have enough left to stand up to the pressure of tough questioning.”
Hawaii is still a Democratic state, and the GOP candidate is a non-factor this year — similar to Connecticut where the battle is between Sen. Lieberman and Ned Lamont. But unlike the Nutmeg State, the revolt within the Democratic Party in Hawaii is one of moderates against an aging liberal machine. The word “Aloha” means both hello and goodbye. Hawaii voters may say it twice this year, once to bid Mr. Akaka goodbye and the other to welcome a modern Democrat as their new senator.