Posted: February 19, 2008 5:15 PM
Hawaii Democrats Expect Huge Turnout for Caucuses
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Democratic officials in Hawaii are expecting a record turnout in Tuesday’s caucuses — which offer a rare chance for residents of the Pacific archipelago to influence the primary race and possibly support a native son’s campaign.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was born in Honolulu in 1961 — just two years after Hawaii became the 50th state. In 1979, he graduated from its prestigious Punahou School (Home of the Buffanblu).
Even though Obama is the presumed favorite in the state’s Tuesday caucus, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton secured the support of the state’s most powerful Democratic lawmaker, U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye, plus national committeeman Richard Port — both of whom are super delegates. Nine-term Congressman Neil Abercrombie, who knew Obama when he was a child, has endorsed the Illinois senator, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Abercrombie warned fellow Democrats to expect long lines and some confusion at the precinct meetings.
“It is going to be a long night. He (Obama) is bringing in new voters. He is going to be the beneficiary of the new support, but still it is going to take time at the caucuses,” Abercrombie said, according to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
But ahead of Tuesday’s caucuses, there have been no polls of Hawaiian voters, and neither Clinton nor Obama campaigned in person in the islands — located some 2,400 miles west of California.
Instead, both candidates’ relatives have been stumping for them across the islands.
Chelsea Clinton spent three days in Hawaii campaigning on behalf of her mother.
“I don’t recall Hawaii ever getting this much political interest from any national candidate,” said Lisa Rosenlee, a political science professor who welcomed the former first daughter to her University of Hawaii West Oahu campus class last week, according to the AP.
On the island of Maui, Maya Soetoro-Ng asked about 200 people gathered at a luncheon to vote for her half brother, Obama.
“I want to emphasize my brother loves these islands. He loves these islands with every fiber of his being,” she said, according to the AP.
Hawaii’s caucus is usually held in March, and the state has never played a role in selecting the Democratic nominee, the Star-Bulletin reported. The caucus date was moved up this year, and the interest in Hawaii’s 20 proportionally awarded delegates is intense.
The 2004 presidential caucus in Hawaii drew about 4,000 Democrats, which was a big jump from the 1,200 who voted in the 2000 caucus.
Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, spokeswoman for the Clinton campaign in Hawaii, told the Star-Bulletin she expects 6,000 to 8,000 Democrats to caucus.
Obama volunteers suggested that turnout could even climb into the 15,000 to 18,000 range, the Honolulu Advertiser reported.
“My cell phone bill has doubled, and my e-mails have tripled with inquiries about the caucuses,” Annelle Amaral, a Democratic official in Oahu, told the Chicago Tribune.
Ahead of the Aloha State’s caucuses, Sen. Clinton declined to make any predictions.
“I just hope to do as well as I can. I have no predictions to make. I have an uphill battle, and I understand it and I respect it,” Clinton told the Star-Bulletin.
At Obama’s alma mater, some students who aren’t old enough to vote formed a club that has handed out voter registration forms and distributed campaign literature on behalf of their famous alumnus, the AP reported.
“People on this island are definitely noticing. It does give him an edge in Hawaii,” said Kim Takinami, a 17-year-old member of Students for Barack Obama.
Hawaii’s first caucus tallies are expected to be announced sometime around 1:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, and the results will be made official when the all the ballots are recounted on March 1.
-- By , NewsHour with Jim Lehrer | Comments | Link
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Is Obama really ready to become the next president of the United States? I really don't think so. He's still wet behind the ears. He's dreaming about what he thinks he can do. . as did many other presidents. People think about this and don't vote for this kid.
Ask the past nine states in a row why Obama won them. They'll tell you he's more than ready to take on the hardships of being President. Something to think about: You can be young in years, But be old in wisdom.
Susan, you obviously have not done any research on Barack Obama, or his record. Until then, do not tell people what to think, and definitely do not tell people how to vote.
I do not think Obama is ready to be the President of the U.S. For one thing the lack of experience. I did not vote for him and I will not vote for him in the national election if he is the democratic nominee
Obama is too young? Does anybody remember the wet-behind-the-ears Bill Clinton playing saxophone on the Arsenio Hall show? John Kennedy? Two of the most talented democrats ever elected to office. Both would have been great had the effectiveness of their terms not been cut short-- one by assasination and one by . . .well. . you know.
I'd definitely vote for Hillary, that would make Chelsea with 16 years of White House experience and a better future candidate.
When some people speak about experience, what I think they mean is "good judgement." The longest resumes in Washington belong to Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld; look where that got us. Obama has proven he's not only smart, authentic and a man of ideas and integrity, but he has good judgement. That'll beat experience, particularly experience in national gridlock, every time.
Obama is three years older than John F. Kennedy was when he was elected president.
He is bright, experienced, honest, and highly resourceful, and he wouldn't be getting endorsements from high profile politicians like the Kennedy's and John Kerry if they didn't think he was qualified for the job.
The ones who claim that Obama isn't ready to be president because he doesn't have enough experience make me laugh.
Let's see, our current president ran several companies into the ground and couldn't even run a baseball team.
I'd rather have a man of vision and no experience than a man with litany of failures and no vision.
No wonder this country is in the shape it is in.
I think this "lack of experience" thing is too funny. Obama has 11 years of elected experience between his service in IL and US Congress. Hillary only has 8 elected years. I don't really feel that being the wife to an elected official really counts. It is a much different role. My partner owns a business and I have some insight and contact with his biz but I certainly cannot call myself a business owner. Obama is highly educated with many years of sound judgement and experience...Its not like he's an intern who's decided to run. McCain has the most experience and it is so sad that he's having to set his values aside to get the support of the conservative base. I just don't want to stay in Iraq for 100 yrs.
I believe in Obama because he is new and wet behind the ears. I am so sick and tired of politics as usual in Washington D.C. Only more problems on top of more problems. The USA needs for once to take some intelligent risks, which it has refused to do for too long.
I believe most Americans know what issues we face as a nation as we try to decide which candidate(s) will best resolve them. We see in John McCain�s life, past and present a devotion to serve his country. Anyone who knows Senator McCain will tell you that he has passion for what he believes in and a constant drive to serve his country to the best of his abilities with sincerity, truthfulness, and dedication.
Most Americans are aware of the courageous service John provided as a naval aviator and POW . But few can fully appreciate how bad the egregious hospitality of the Hanoi Hilton was .His main concerns were for other POWs� life threatening conditions and how he could help them is spite of the injuries he had received prior to and during his confinement.
To this day John�s truthfulness and dedication for what he believes in is demonstrated by his sincere and noble service as a Senator of the United States of America. We could do a whole lot worse than vote for John Mc Cain as our next president of the United States for every man, woman and child in our country regardless of their political affiliation.
God Speed John Mc Cain