Barack Obama backers in Hawaii try to extend their reach

What to do when you live on the sidelines of this year's presidential race? When you reside in a state where the winner of its electoral votes long has been such a foregone conclusion that the candidates rarely visit and the local operatives merely go through the motions?

For some Californians, as The Times Kate Linthicum recently detailed, the answer is to travel to nearby Nevada -- fiercely contested political turf -- to "try to swing the Silver State blue" (i.e., help win it for Barack Obama).

Here's the surprise, though. Residents of a state that doesn't share a border with Nevada -- indeed, one that doesn't abut any state -- are engaged in a similar mission.

The Honolulu Advertiser reports that Hawaiians supporting Obama -- a native son -- are politicking Nevadans to do the same, drawing on "deep cultural and tourism connections" between the two states.

Those links? Says the newspaper: "Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders make up about 6.5% of Nevada's population, or about 160,000 people. There is a substantial Island cultural presence because of the many Hawaii transplants who moved (to Nevada) for jobs and the Hawaii residents who come ... regularly to gamble and shop."

Certain geographic constraints still apply, of course. According to the Advertiser, most of the Hawaiians touting Obama content themselves with making phone calls to Nevada, rather than journeying there.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Keith Kamisugi]

The media needs to stop calling "Hawaiian" all residents of Hawai'i.

“Hawaiian” refers to a person who is a descendant of the indigenous Polynesian people inhabiting the Hawaiian Islands and who exercised sovereignty before the arrival of British explorer Captain James Cook in 1778. Those living in Hawaii but are not of Polynesian heritage should be referred to as “Hawaii residents.” (aaja.org)

[Gerald]

There is a reason Hawaiians call Nevada the 8th island. Not only do Hawaiians like to visit, but many have chosen to make Nevada their home. Just one more wrinkle in this exiting and close Nevada race.

[susan]

To make every vote in every state politically relevant and equal in presidential elections, support the National Popular Vote bill.

The National Popular Vote bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC). The bill would take effect only when enacted by states possessing a majority of the electoral votes (270 of 538). When the bill comes into effect, all the electoral votes from those states would be awarded to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states (and DC).

The National Popular Vote bill has been approved by 21 legislative chambers (one house in CO, AR, ME, NC, and WA, and two houses in MD, IL, HI, CA, MA, NJ, RI, and VT). It has been enacted into law in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. These states have 50 (19%) of the 270 electoral votes needed to bring this legislation into effect.

see http://www.NationalPopularVote.com