Tea Party

Mahalo, Neil Abercrombie

By Jay Newton-Small | @JNSmall | May 10, 2010 | +

Except for Scott Brown in Massachusetts, Republicans have not had much luck with special elections to the 111th Congress. Dems have won all six of the races, including a Republican stronghold in New York’s 23rd district (who can forget the Dede Scozzofava mess?). Well, the GOP luck looks like it’s about to change: the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today announced it is pulling out of the special election to fill Rep. Neil Abercrombie’s seat. Abercrombie, a Democrat, left office just before the final health care vote to run for governor of Hawaii – unlike his GOP counterpart Nathan Deal who postponed his run for higher office in Georgia to help his party on the crucial vote.

“The DCCC will not be investing additional resources in the HI-01 (Abercrombie-open) special election,” Jennifer Crider, a DCCC spokeswoman, said in a statement. “Local Democrats were unable to work out their differences. The DCCC will save the resources we would have invested in the Hawaii special election this month for the general election in November.”

So far this cycle much of the primary attention has gone to the right what with the advent of the Tea Party movement. But in this case, Democrats are proving that they are also capable of friendly fire. The district is President Obama’s childhood home and is rated D+11 by the cook Political Report. And yet Republican Honolulu City Councilman Charles Djou looks poised to win the May 22 special election. This is because the two Democratic candidates, former Rep. Ed Case (brother of AOL’s Steve Case) and President of the State Senate Colleen Hanabusa have engaged in a vicious war that has essentially ended in a double suicide – or homicide, depending on how you look at it. When your own party throws up its hands in disgust, you know you’re doing something wrong.

Case is more of a Blue Dog moderate and Hanabusa is a progressive. Hanabusa enjoys the support of local party establishment: no shocker since many are still smarting from Case’s primary challenge of Senator Daniel Akaka. DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen had asked Abercrombie to throw his weight behind one of the candidates to help keep his former seat but in another profile in political courage, Abercrombie has yet to endorse, presumably for fear of angering one wing of the party since he’s in a tough primary battle himself for the governor’s mansion. Aloha, Hawaiian Republican Party, welcome to Hawaii’s first district.

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Related Topics: charles djou, colleen hanabusa, ed case, hawaii's first district, neil abercrombie, special election, 2012 Election, Barack Obama, Congress, Democratic Party, Republican Party, Tea Party

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  • kevin

    Normally, the Democratic circular firing squad has more than two members. This is impressive.

  • deconstructiva

    Thanks, Jay. Are in Hawaii to cover this (or were you)? If yes, lucky you! Will one of HI’s volcanoes erupt and strand you there for a few weeks? Life would be harsh but you’ll be okay …and may lead to new stories like your London adventure did (hope you and Catherine have become close friends from that).
    .
    I’m amazed the D’s are allowing two candidates to run at once for this special election. Jay, from what you’ve heard (+ tea leaves), who’s more likely to try again this fall, Hanabusa or Case? Thanks for your thoughts.

  • Paul-no not that one

    And come November the seat goes back to being Democratic, no?

  • bobell

    Hey, this is the Democrats. Wanna bet November’s a sure thing?

  • http://www.twitter.com/jnsmall Jay Newton-Small

    I *wish* I was in Hawaii right now covering this. Alas, our travel budget for House races is not so lavish.

    I haven’t heard anything about a fall rematch – but I can easily imagine the same thing happening. Both Hanabusa and Case seem… stubborn.
    JNS

  • Paul-no not that one

    The “same thing” can’t happen.
    .
    “The regular election in November will go by the regular rules — a straight up partisan contest.”
    .
    http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/05/pulling_the_plug.php#more
    .

  • deconstructiva
  • Art Pepper

    The Democratic Party in Hawai`i is the entrenched machine. They need some shaking up.

    But why “mahalo”?

  • deconstructiva

    …snark / Jay’’s dark sense of humour. We need more of this. She could’ve literally written “Thank you, NA, Thank You Very F’ing Much” or even “F’ You, NA” but Michael (and Amy?) would’ve hit the fainting couch and she might’ve gotten a pleading email from the High Sheriffs (hopefully to do more of those titles).

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