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I think the problem is that Dems organize and communicate very well with one another , they don’t ‘in-fight’ like the Republicans do . Their elected ones DO have coat-tails and candidates avail themselves of them . Repubs do not offer any coat-tails , it’s sink or swim , on your own . And by the way , find your own funding too ! Dems have their own hero core out here : Dan Inouye foremost . So many older Japanese , Filipino and Hawaiian totally idolize him . If he says vote for so&so , they vote for so&so . The Unions are subtle , deep and powerful , as is org.crime . If they support a Dem . their rank & file fall in line. The Unions serve amazing bento feeds , they literally buy votes with lots of chow . Islanders love to eat (free!)
Hawaii Dems are Dems before and over the fact that they are Hawaiian , Filipino or any other ethnic , before they are Christians , before they are Jewish , before they are businesspersons . D comes first , period . They suffer from a collective historical myopia . Terrible past histories in their candidates records matter not at all . All that matters is that they are the current D on the ballot .

I've been living here for 41 years now and you pretty much nailed the situation in Hawaii. Inouye and Akaka will be in office until THEY decide to quit or more than likely die. We did vote in a Republican mayor here on Maui but lost the Governor race to a full on progressive “60s” idiot hippie.
He totally screwed the American people in congress and now has come home to roost and lay more liberal eggs here. Maui was again this year voted the “Best Island in the World”, it's a shame that the people here are so stupid. I had a local friend tell me that he could not possible vote Republican , if his family , who forever has voted Democrat, found out they would disown him. Thus Abercrombie is in, probably until he can't run anymore. Pathetic.

I think one of the biggest problems Republicans have is that a significant number of them are snobs.

I think that's one reason why Christine O'Donnell lost in Delaware.

I hardly know anything about Hawaii and I couldn't think of giving you advice.

Forget that, I'll give you some advice. Be consistent in the policies and solutions you advocate, draw clear lines, be vocal but be polite and when things fall apart your group might be the one people turn to.