March 8 has arrived, and with it comes a higher national profile than Hawaii usually enjoys for its Republican presidential caucus.
That’s because Hawaii’s 19 delegates matter more than they do in the typical presidential election year. In case anyone has missed this point: 2016 is not a typical season, particularly not for the GOP. With any luck, Hawaii will rise above the morass of this campaign and consider its own choices rationally.
It has been a jaw-dropping spectacle, primarily staged-managed by candidate Donald Trump, who started out as a political novice but has found his marketing savvy serving him well. Trump, the billionaire businessman, is best known for his reality TV show, “The Apprentice.”
Trump knows how to make the most of theatrics and has the instincts to know, in a splintered field of candidates, that can help him capture a sector of voters attracted by his celebrity and projection of strength.
“Strength” in this arena has taken the form of bullying, hurling insults and vulgarities, acts that horrify most people watching individuals vying for the U.S. presidency.
At first Trump was the sole instigator, but his rivals ultimately decided the best way to slow his momentum was to fight fire with fire, and the result hasn’t been pretty, let alone dignified.
More recently, with the race for delegates tightening up, even a small cache of 19 could make a difference to candidates in a do-or-die position. Judging by the slew of campaign commercials run over the weekend, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is trying to change the race dynamics, by tapping into even Hawaii’s small potential contribution.
The job for Hawaii Republicans now is to stay focused on the issues, despite all the noisy distractions, and use information to inform their decision.
The upside of all this for the beleaguered GOP organization in a deep-blue state is that the conflagration may drive more participants, and ultimately new party members, to the local caucuses, being conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. today in 45 locations statewide.
Voting is restricted to card-carrying members of the Republican Party, but new arrivals can join up at the door. (For more on the rules and procedures, go online to: http://gophawaii.com/.)
In addition to Trump and Rubio, the ballots will include the other candidates remaining in the race — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John R. Kasich — as well as two who have dropped out, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and neurosurgeon Ben Carson.
The delegates will be apportioned to candidates according to a formula based on voting totals, so even if a Republican’s preferred candidate has fallen behind in the national race, earning a significant share of the votes can add to his running total. Turnout matters.
Trump has presented himself as a political outsider, which resonates with many voters weary of what they see as Washington’s unresponsiveness.
But even an outsider in D.C., someone without a voting record, has a record in business or other realms, and should be judged by its thorough examination.
Those who have accepted at face value the real-estate magnate’s claims, for example, ought to dig into the facts. They don’t even have to dig very deep. There are bankruptcies to weigh against Trump’s boasts of wealth and success, as well as disconcerting reports about the substandard performance of enterprises such as Trump University.
What candidates have accomplished ought to count for more than talk — which is cheap as well as ugly, at least in this cycle.
Hawaii is remote from the hubs of political power nationally. Perhaps maintaining a healthy distance from all that is something to celebrate this time.
The Aloha State has its admirable traditions and values, which lends hope that its people can heed the better angels of their nature and vote thoughtfully.
