President Barack Obama and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday backed U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz in endorsements that could help influence undecided voters in Schatz’s Democratic primary campaign against U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.
Schatz, who was appointed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie to replace the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, has locked down important Democratic establishment support in Washington, D.C., as he seeks to fill out the remainder of Inouye’s term. The endorsements by Obama and Reid, which came on the last day of the fundraising quarter, will also likely help Schatz maintain his fundraising dominance over Hanabusa in the final months before the August primary.
The latest Hawaii Poll showed Hanabusa with a slight lead over Schatz, while other surveys have the campaign tied. The Hawaii Poll also put Obama’s job approval rating in Hawaii at 67 percent, among the highest in the nation, as the president remains popular in the state where he was born and raised.
John Hart, a Hawaii Pacific University communications professor, said the endorsements might help Schatz with name recognition. The Hawaii Poll found that a quarter of voters did not know enough about Schatz to form an opinion of him.
Schatz and his chief of staff, Andy Winer, led the Obama campaign in Hawaii in 2008. Hanabusa and Inouye supported Hillary Rodham Clinton — then a U.S. senator — in the primary against Obama. Abercrombie, who knew Obama’s parents, was also an early enthusiast of Obama’s presidential campaign.
Obama endorsed Abercrombie for re-election in December.
"It’s significant but it’s not surprising," Hart said of Obama’s endorsement of Schatz. "Sen. Schatz worked for Obama’s campaign, he’s been a strong supporter of the president and he’s an incumbent Democrat. I’m sure that the Schatz campaign is hoping that an endorsement from the Hawaii-born president will help offset the late Sen. Inouye’s endorsement of his primary opponent."
Obama had released a video backing Hanabusa during her successful 2010 campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Charles Djou.
"This election will be decided by the people of Hawaii and we will continue to listen to their concerns and work hard to provide them the representation they expect and deserve," Peter Boylan, a spokesman for the Hanabusa campaign, said in an email. "Colleen is a skilled legislator with a proven record of leadership and bipartisan accomplishment and has always fought to provide for Hawaii’s hard working families while protecting our values. The people of Hawaii are looking forward to their first opportunity to vote for their next U.S. senator and we believe they trust Colleen to continue fighting for them in the U.S. Senate."
Obama, in his endorsement of Schatz, said he has "worked with Sen. Schatz on the issues that matter to Hawaii."
He added, "Brian’s deep commitment to the people of Hawaii and his effective leadership are why I believe it is important to return him to the Senate. Sen. Schatz is protecting Hawaii’s values and fighting every day on behalf of middle-class families. There is no question that Sen. Schatz is the right choice to continue delivering for Hawaii."
Schatz described himself as one of Obama’s "most steadfast allies" in the Senate.
"President Obama personally understands Hawaii’s values and is committed to making sure that everyone who works hard and plays by the rules is given a fair shot," the senator said in a statement. "I will work together with President Obama to continue moving Hawaii and America forward."
Reid, D-Nev., called Schatz "a champion for working families in Hawaii," adding, "He has been a leader in efforts to develop clean energy jobs and reduce the impact of climate change, and a strong advocate for ensuring a fair shot for all Americans. I’m pleased to join President Obama in supporting Brian and I look forward to his continued service on behalf of Hawaii in the United States Senate."
