Posted on 10/30/2004 4:47:55 PM PDT by Dog
Kerry Spot reader William sends in this report of the situation on the ground in Hawaii:
In terms of presidential politics, [Al Gore's visit] was ALMOST a non-event. He appeared at pre-planned Filipino concert at a high school in a largely Filipino district of Oahu. The co-host was Dem. Cong. Neil Abercrombie.
The Filipino community has traditionally been a Democrat stronghold in this state, and flexed its political muscle 10 year ago by electing Ben Cayetano as the first Filipino Governor of Hawaii, and re-electing him in 1998. The coalition of Filipinos and Japanese-Americans is the bedrock of the Demo. party establishment here.
Kerry is in trouble in this state because recent polling shows the Pres. beating him by 15 points among Filipinos. Gore's appearance last night was an effort to bring some of these Filipino voters back to Kerry.
But only 1200 people were on hand — it wasn't any better than a "B" level political event. And he was largely preaching to the convereted. This was a gathering of Filipinos that are committed to Kerry.
The four local television stations all led their newscasts with it at 10:00 p.m., but the coverage was a little underwhelming. The real heart of each stations' story was that for the first time Hawaii's votes might matter — the electoral count may be close, and the outcome here is too close to call. They then covered Gore's appearance, but in the same story talked about the upcoming appearance of VP Cheney tomorrow.
But, most importantly, immediately following the Gore appearance story, each station covered the Bin Laden video.
Cheney is set to appear tomorrow at an event expected to draw 10,000 people. Rather than a local high school, he'll be in downtown Honolulu at the Convention Center. He's got a real chance to wipe the Gore appearance right off the map.
Very curiously, the two Dem. candidates for Mayor of Honolulu did NOT show up at the event last night with Gore.
Hmm. What do they know about the national race in their polling?
I've been wondering how voting in Hawaii will be affected by the time difference. Will afternoon voters in the islands know who has won the East Coast states? If Kerry loses New Hampshire, or New Jersey looks close, or Bush picks up an electoral vote in Maine, will Hawaiians feel like they know the winner?
I would love to take my family there next year..Its between them and Oklahoma for my money...ehhehe
Change in HA politics has been underway for several election cycles.
Thing is I take it all with a grain of salt. Not to knock the "newbies" but notice how many posters who claim HA will go to W have registered in the past few months?
There's nothing wrong with that, but sometimes I feel new FReepers are so excited to have found FR they tend to get a little too optomistic.
Good Lord you and I were newbies once, albeit a long time ago...sigh!
prisoner6
btt
Forget Hawaii. Many Republican pundits are now talking like Bush has already lost Ohio. No Republican has won the White House without Ohio. Bush needs to unload his resources in Pennsylvania.
After the sudden appearance of Osama Bin Laden, Dog.
Bet on it turning red by Monday morning!
Jack.
Kerry needs rock stars.
Dubyah IS a rock star!
The daughter of a client went to that concert to see Bon Jovi.
She is voting for Dubyah.
The kids love free concerts. Changes no minds, though.
Al Gore seems to have the Mark of Cain since he lost in 2000. He gives a speech on global warming and the weather wurns out to be the coldest day in 50 years; he stumps for Dean and a week later Dean is toast; he looks BAD.
Gore's appearance in HAWAII and drawing a crowd of 1200 is but the precursor to the greater doom -- that the state will go red.
Kerry is in trouble in this state because recent polling shows the Pres. beating him by 15 points among Filipinos. Gore's appearance last night was an effort to bring some of these Filipino voters back to Kerry.
heh heh heh....... People have been paying attention to my tagline.
Good possibility.
Now here's a question: Will the media go back to using the color designations they've always used during elections (incumbent party = blue, challenger party = red), or are the new popular designations (GOP = red, Dems = blue) going to stick?
Personally, I prefer the Rat-won states to be shown in commie red.
God,Gore looks awful. I hope doesn't bring up the obesity epidemic in any of his talks.
My friend in Leyte tells me that it is probably a reflection of the first hand bad time that these folks have with their own moslem terrorist. Abu Sayef supports Kerry.
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