A Senate race to watch--part two

The way it was

Hawaii's four federal seats seats were generally held by Democrats. Incumbents nearly always won, often facing little-to-no opposition. The pecking order was for Representatives to become Senators themselves, in due course.

Occasionally a death, a retirement, or an unsuccessful run for some other office, creates an open seat with no anointed heir. That sort of puka (hole) gets everyone's hat tossed into the ring! A pack of hopefuls are now in just such a scramble for an empty House seat in Hawaii's Second Congressional District.

And why the vacancy? This year, Hawaii's junior Congressman, Democrat Ed Case, did the unthinkable. Out of the blue, in January, Case announced he would challenge Hawaii's junior Senator, fellow Democrat Daniel Akaka. The winner of the September 23 primary will almost assuredly carry the general election come November.

The uproar swept the state like a tsunami!

The main contenders: Akaka and Case

Akaka is Hawaiian/Chinese--the first Hawaiian Senator ever. From humble beginnings, the former school teacher was elected to the House in 1976 and to the Senate in 1990. Akaka is renowned for his genuine warmth and dignity. Everyone likes him--although his Senate record has been unspectacular.

Akaka's voting record is on the liberal end of the spectrum. He has also been unswervingly loyal to Hawaii's very senior Senator, Daniel Inouye.

Sen. Dan Inouye need not seek re-election this term, but he's a big player in this contest. A brilliant and highly effective politician, Inouye keeps a low profile. 3rd in U.S. Senate seniority, Inouye has no plans to retire anytime soon. He is sometimes credited with bringing back enough political pork to count as Hawaii's second most important economic force after tourism.

Beside trying to define "effectiveness", a big talking point of this campaign is Senate seniority--and age. The two Dans, Senators Inouye and Akaka, are 82 and 81 years old. At 53, Ed Case has nominated himself as the Senate apprentice Hawaii needs to maintain a meaningful role in the future.

Case is a lawyer turned politician. A 4th generation islander, he's what we call a local haole (Caucasian). Case and his second wife, Audrey Nakamura, were classmates together as children on the Big Island. Together, this multi-ethnic, blended family makes for excellent brochure photos. With his history, and ties to Honolulu and the neighbor isles, Case cannot be denigrated as an outsider--something which counts for a lot in island politics.

Case has built his political career as someone who thinks for himself--with (or more often without) his own party's backing. Calling for an end to partisan gridlock in Washington, he casts himself as a moderate, albeit with a strong environmental record. Case made waves--and powerful enemies--in State politics as a crusader, unafraid of controversy.

To succeed, Case must fight his own party's distain and finesse the culturally-offensive role of tossing aside a Kupuna (a respected elder). His "Case for change" argument goes like this: if Hawaii stays the present course, eventually some transition will occur, leaving islanders with two new Senators--and no seniority at all. Hawaii could disappear from the power map, instead of punching above its weight, as it does now. (When pressed, Akaka's plan for succession was for Hawaii's senior Representative, Neil Abercrombie, now 68, to eventually move into his seat. As had been customary, "B.C."--before Case!)

Senator Inouye isn't buying Case's version of planned succession. Inouye is pointedly and actively campaigning for "my friend Dan Akaka". Inouye even contributed $300,000 from his campaign coffers to groups supporting Akaka's re-election. This is in marked contrast to the race to fill the seat vacated by Case. Ten Democrats are running in that primary. Inouye, and the rest of Hawaii's Democratic delegation, maintain official neutrality there, taking a "let the voters decide" stance.

Besides this not-very-subtle power struggle, Hawaii Democrats are arguing about the size and shape of their tent. Are "blue-dog" Democrats traitors to Hawaii's proud liberal heritage? Or should the party have room for more diversity? Republicans are inclined to bring votes and contributions to Case, exacerbating the internal party rift.

National interest, local sub-text

The Akaka/Case race has drawn national interest as the candidates differ over the Iraq War. Akaka was an early critic and he favors withdrawal from Iraq. Case says the situation requires a careful exit, with no set timetables. For many voters, the war is the overriding issue. However, locally this race is also about power and philosophy.

Who will lead Hawaii? Who may succeed in Hawaii's Democratic Party? The old guard, doing business the old way? Or upstarts, with whom all bets are off?

As is true of most incumbents, Akaka has tried to keep above his challenger. With far more money, and much party support, he is reluctant to mix it up. Case is seemingly everywhere, clamoring--sometimes annoyingly--for debates. Akaka has participated in just two joint appearances thus far, the most recent before a group of publishers in early August.

Case has made so out of Akaka's "refusal to debate" that Akaka eventually relented. There will be a moderated program, if not a direct debate, on Hawaii's PBS affiliate, August 31st. By now, a much-anticipated event!

Is Hawaii's beloved Senator Akaka too old, too partisan, too liberal? Or is he experienced, loyal and wise? Does this kind, gentle man--with his decades of untainted public service--represent what Hawaii voters still want and trust?

Is Representative Case too brash? Too conservative? Too recklessly independent? What good is a loose cannon--who cannot play ball with his own party? Or is Case the one who stood up and said "The past does not own your vote--choose for yourselves!"

For Case is not just running against Dan Akaka. If he wins, it will also be a stinging repudiation of "old school" politics in Hawaii.

Stay tuned!