Debate Night; Dueling Polls; What Matters

Dear Friend:

Tonight, my Democratic opponent and I meet in the only major statewide televised debate she agreed to. We ask you to tune in to the Hawaii News Now stations from 6:30PM to 8PM or watch the livestream at www.hawaiinewsnow.com.

With just 16 days to primary election day, three recent polls show us virtually tied with Hirono and doing far better than her against Lingle in the general. These results match the statewide momentum we feel in our tremendous grassroots campaign as voters really think through their primary election choice.

A different poll result was reported in the Star Advertiser this morning. This is not the first time this polling company has produced a contrary result.

Just two weeks before our 2002 Governor primary against Hirono. that company's poll had us down to Hirono by 20 points. On election day, Hirono prevailed by just 1 point and then went on to lose to Lingle in the general by 5 points.

In the 2010 Governor primary, the same company had Governor Abercrombie over Hannemann by just 5 points in the same timeframe, while another company, which polled our current race as tied, had Abercrombie up by 17 points. The final margin on election day was 17 points.

Here's the bottom line:

(1) All recent polls except this one show us even with Hirono with momentum in our direction, but, even if we are behind, we've made it up in the closing weeks before.

(2) This race will likely be close when "the only poll that matters" comes out on August 11th, so we need to work even harder in these next few days to remind our supporters to get out and vote and reach everyone, even those who think today they may vote for Hirono or Lingle in the primary.

Will you help us get over the August 11th finish line and on to the general today with a contribution and by making calls to help us get out the vote, canvassing, sign waving, or sending your friends a personal note?

Regardless of how you think you would vote today, please watch the debate tonight, see us side-by-side, and decide who you believe can get the job done for Hawai'i and our country in the United States Senate. We hope you'll decide to join our ohana and fight for strong effective leadership for today and the next generation.

Warm Aloha,