HI-Sen, HI-Gov: Statewide Recruitment Thread

[ccharles000]

With Republican Gov. Linda Lingle of Hawaii term-limited in 2010, Democrats have a good shot at picking up the Governor's office next cycle. Who should run for the big job? And who will the Republicans nominate to defend the seat?
Democratic Sen. Dan Inouye will also be up for re-election in 2010, and would be unbeatable if he wanted another term. But Inouye will be 86 that year, and is unsurprisingly the subject of retirement rumors. If he calls it quits, Lingle is obviously the GOP's best bet to make this a race, but there are several Democrats on the bench who could make strong candidates. Who should run?


http://swingstateproject.com

[KamaAina]

1. Rep. Neil Abercrombie has his eye on Washington Place

the official governor's residence, though the actual house is next door. His likely Dem opposition would include Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann and possibly State Sen. Colleen Hanabusa.

Repuke LG James "Puke Duke" Aiona has already launched his campaign to be anointed as Lingle's successor. :eyes: Even I get mailings from him!

Should Inouye retire, the name of former "Blue Dog" Rep. Ed Case has been bandied about. Just like anywhere else, a Senate seat comes open so rarely that it would likely spark a primary free-for-all -- with Lingle waiting to take on the winner. :scared: