Hawaii: There is probably no state more difficult to poll than Hawaii. The polling in this contest provides ample evidence. There are polls that show Democratic Gov. Neil Abercrombie in good shape as he prepares to run for a second term while others show that there is a possibility that he could lose his primary in August against state Sen. David Ige, and if he survives the primary, that he is vulnerable in the general election. Ige, an electrical engineer by training, was elected to the state House of Representatives in 1986 and served until 1994 when he won a seat in the state Senate. Ige takes issue with Abercrombie’s budget priorities, especially when it comes to education, and with his general management of state government. The Governor doesn’t appear to be taking any chances and started running television ads last spring that focus on his accomplishments, particularly in education and services for the elderly. However, whatever financial advantage Abercrombie had has dissipated, creating more of an opening for Ige. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will face former Republican Lt.
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