Hannemann says Inouye asked him to run for governor

In the last election, when Mayor Hannemann claimed victory in his reelection bid, Senator Inouye stood beside him on TV and publicly congratulated him.  Many took this as a sign that Inouye had anointed Hannemann as his successor.  There were already signs that Inouye and US Representative Abercrombie were divided on certain issues, of note the question of whether or not Makua valley should remain a military training area.  Inouye came out in support of the Army training while Abercrombie questioned the Army’s need for Makua.  Now in the race for Governor, with Hannemann and Abercrombie as the two Democratic Party frontrunners, Hannemann has leaked to the press that Inouye urged him to run for Governor.  Sly move to tap into Inouye’s political clout.  But it also brands Hannemann with the corrupt ‘old boy’s network’ political machine that has run roughshod over Hawai’i for the last fifty years.

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http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20091119/BREAKING01/91119053/Hannemann+says+Inouye+asked+him+to+run+for+governor

Updated at 12:50 p.m., Thursday, November 19, 2009

Hannemann says Inouye asked him to run for governor

Advertiser Staff

U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye has not endorsed a candidate for governor in 2010, but his staff does not dispute Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s claim that the senator has urged him to run.

Hannemann, who has not officially declared his candidacy but is raising money for a possible campaign, said at a fundraiser in Waikiki last night that Inouye had encouraged him to run in the Democratic primary.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, has declared his candidacy and his aides have been working behind-the-scenes to tamp down speculation that Inouye, the state’s top Democrat, was backing Hannemann.

“The senator encourages lots of candidates to run for office,” Inouye’s spokesman, Peter Boylan, said today from Washington, D.C. “Encouraging people to participate in the Democratic process is critical to ensuring healthy competition and healthy competition is good for the Democratic Party. It strengthens the party’s ranks and adds depth to the party’s bench.

“The senator has not officially endorsed any candidate for governor.”

The Democratic Party typically does not endorse in primary campaigns and top Democrats often straddle the line of an official endorsement even when clearly favoring a particular primary candidate.

Hannemann’s comments, first reported today by the Star-Bulletin, could have an influence on potential donors swayed by the perception that Inouye is supporting the mayor.

“Senator Inouye’s statement that he is not endorsing any candidate for governor speaks for itself,” said Laurie Au, campaign spokeswoman for Abercrombie. “We respect the senator’s decision to remain neutral.”

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