It has never been true in Hawaiian politics. We may take our clues from a handful of leaders, but they draw all their strength from the depth of their own political roots. In other words, you are nothing without a bunch of buddies in the Legislature and county councils. Republicans can hardly expect victory to be any different, but they never stop thinking they need just one statewide win. Finally, the Republicans can't organize the people who want to vote for them.
Democrats get union support, that's a given.
But Democrats also get union friends and officials to run for office. If Republicans see political life through the eyes of small business, they'd better convince small businessmen and women to run and win. And small business people must understand that, just like labor, they have issues and candidates to support. Or the Republicans can spend their elections wondering why they play the entire game in the sand traps on the first hole. Richard Borreca reports on Hawaii's politics every Wednesday.