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http://www.newsmax.com/politics/democrats_hawaii/2008/02/15/73032.html

 

Obama Seeks Win on Hawaiian Home Turf

 

Friday, February 15, 2008

 

HONOLULU -- Sen. Barack Obama, so closely identified with Chicago, has his

roots, his family and a clear edge in Hawaii, which holds Democratic

presidential caucuses on Tuesday.

 

The Illinois senator, who was born in Hawaii and spent most of his first 18

years here, is a source of pride for many of the state's voters.

 

"How often do you have a guy from Hawaii who could very well be the next

president of the United States?" Jacce Mikulanec, an Obama district captain

on Oahu, asked. "People are very excited about that."

 

Hawaii's mere 20 Democratic delegates and its distance from the mainland

usually make the state an afterthought in presidential campaigns. But

Obama's narrow lead and the strong contest Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton

continues to wage means the state could have an impact on the race.

 

Of the 2,025 delegates needed for the Democratic nomination, Obama now has

1,276; Clinton, 1,220.

 

Neither candidate plans to campaign in the state, but Clinton has dispatched

daughter Chelsea to Hawaii for three days, culminating in a rally on Maui

with union workers on Sunday.

 

"I know we face an uphill battle in the state, but we plan to run a vigorous

and successful campaign," Hillary Clinton said in a conference call with

local reporters this week.

 

Obama has enlisted the support of his half-sister, Honolulu school teacher

Maya Soetoro-Ng, and Honolulu-born television actress Kelly Hu. Obama's

campaign is also airing a national TV ad and a Hawaii-specific radio ad,

while Clinton has come out with a "Solutions for Hawaii" plan.

 

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who was friends with Obama's parents at the

University of Hawaii, said Obama's multicultural background _ his white

mother's parents were from Kansas, while his black father was Kenyan _

appeals to Hawaii's racially and ethnically diverse voters.

 

"He has been raised literally in the spirit of aloha. The foundation of his

character was shaped by Hawaii's multicultural society," Abercrombie said.

"Diversity should unite us rather than divide us."

 

Even among unions that are publicly supporting Clinton, some members are

divided over whether to stay true to their union or back a hometown hero,

said Randy Perreira, executive director for the Hawaii Government Employees

Union.

 

A majority of Hawaii union members wanted to endorse Obama, but the group

followed the will of its national parent union, the American Federation of

State, County and Municipal Employees, he said.

 

"Both individuals are tremendous candidates. I don't think we would be

disappointed with any candidate over another," Perreira said.

 

State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, a Clinton supporter, predicted that

Chelsea Clinton's visit "is going to remind people of what the Clintons have

done for Hawaii and what Hawaii means to them."

 

As an example, Hanabusa pointed to the apology resolution signed by former

President Clinton, which she said paved the way for the Native Hawaiian

sovereignty bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

 

The legislation would give Native Hawaiians the right to form a governing

entity similar to those of Native Americans that could negotiate with state

and federal governments over control of natural resources, lands and assets.

 

Both Obama and Clinton support the legislation. Clinton also said she would

like to continue military spending in the state and would support Honolulu's

mass transit funding application.

 

"She may not have lived here or grown up here, but she has real solutions

for Hawaii," said Jin Chon, a Clinton campaign spokesman. "Obama is from

Hawaii, and that can mean something, but at the same time people are worried

about how they're going to pay for employee health care or how they're going

to get their energy costs reduced."

 

State party officials predict record turnout and long lines at some caucus

sites. They have ordered extra ballots, and some worry that even those may

not be enough to accommodate everyone.

 

Obama tends to outperform Clinton in caucuses, which require a greater

commitment of time and energy from voters. He's won caucuses in 10 states,

the U.S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa, while she narrowly won New

Mexico's caucus. Clinton also won the popular vote in Nevada's Democratic

caucuses, but Obama came away with one more delegate due to complex

distribution rules.

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