Hawai'i U.S. Senate Race

Race of the Day

Hawai'i U.S. Senate

August 14, 2010
80 Days Until Election Day

Status: Democrat Incumbent
2008 Presidential Result: Blue State (West)

Outlook: Safe Democrat

At the age of 86, Democrat Daniel Inouye will be seeking is ninth term in the U.S. Senate. The World War II hero also spent four years in the House of Representatives which means he has been in Congress for as long as Hawai'i was a state. Recently, he was elevated to the post of President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and he is the highest ranking Asian-American politician in U.S. history.

While his homestate colleague Daniel Akaka, who was born just four days after Inouye, faced a unsuccessful challenge in his last Senate primary, based largely on age, the legendary Senior Senator from the Aloha State is assured of his party's nomination and his victory in November will likely be the easiest Senate race Democrats will have anywhere in America. Members of that party have even chosen to overlook what Inouye had done in the past few years, in regards to testifying on behalf of, and visiting Alaska to campaign for, his best friend, the recently deceased former Republican Senator Ted Stevens.

Three Republicans are running to face Inouye. The most credible of whom seems to be Cam Cavasso, a former State Representative, who took 21 percent as Inouye's GOP opponent in 2004. If they are to meet in a rematch, perhaps some greater concern about Inouye's age, and a favorable national environment for Republicans could help Cavasso finish as much as 10 points higher this time around. Mahalo!

Cavasso campaign link:

http://www.camcavasso.com

2010 U.S. Senate races predicted thus far: 3 D, 8 R
Predicted U.S. Senate Balance of Power thus far: 43 D, 31 R