U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa said she’s running against U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz for the late Daniel Inouye’s old seat to give voters a say in the matter.
She said she respects Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s decision to appoint Schatz despite Inouye’sappealfor her but doesn’t feel the governor’s nod means Schatz is forever entitled to the seat.
"The people have not had the chance to speak," she said. "We are going to afford them that opportunity."
She’s right; nobody should hold what could become a lifetime job in the U.S. Senate without a rigorous test at the ballot box.
Hanabusa’s challenge will be devising a test that Schatz could flunk as he runs with the advantages of two years of incumbency by the time of the 2014 election.
Schatz will almost certainly have the edge in campaign funding — and a smart, tested political organization to spend it.
He’ll have the endorsement of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, plus personal support from many of Inouye’s old Senate pals.
Local labor endorsements have been split, and Schatz will likely gain high-profile defectors from Inouye’s old political and business allies whom Hanabusa is counting on.
Abercrombie is actively defending his choice of Schatz, 40, over Hanabusa, 61, arguing it’s time to pass power to a new generation and give Hawaii a chance to build meaningful seniority in the Senate.
Both are liberal Democrats, and differences will be few on gut issues for Democratic primary voters.
It leaves Hanabusa to argue experience and legislative skills, that she’s better suited to "hit the ground running" and build relationships Hawaii needs in Washington.
That might have played in a race for an open seat, but by the election Schatz will have been on the ground building relationships for two years. Voters will need good reason to give up the seniority he’s gained.
Hanabusa downplays the importance of seniority, but all Schatz needs to do is quote Inouye, who often said seniority is paramount in the U.S. Senate.
Hanabusa’s hopes come down to Hawaii’s political demographics breaking in her favor — getting a wall of support from the unions, business interests and older and non-Caucasian voters who backed Inouye.
But Schatz is not Ed Case; he has solid ties to all of these groups from serving in the Legislature,campaigning for President Barack Obama, leading the state Democratic Party and running for lieutenant governor.
Hanabusa will have difficulty making inroads with Schatz’s base of younger and more progressive Democrats. He has good support among women despite Hanabusa’s backing by EMILY’s List.
She may be right that he’s not a "real" incumbent because he was appointed and not elected, but her challenge remains that he enjoys all the advantages of incumbency.
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Reach David Shapiro at volcanicash@gmail.com or blog.volcanicash.net.
