Will good surf compromise Hawaiian voter turnout?

Surf conditions Nov 2, 2004

Is it possible? Will good surf conditions compromise Hawaiian voter turnout? Latest weather conditions seem unlikely to deter voters, but surf conditions are another story.

Let's see how the day develops...

Meanwhile the radio waves have been saturated with both Bush and Kerry ads. Ads are popping up on virtually all stations. Even the ABC affiliate, conservative talk radio at AM 990 has been fair play for the Democratic dollar. This state has certainly become a battle ground.

Local station KWHE (channel 11) is currently having a discussion about the issues (11:00pm, Nov 1, “Don’t Abort Your Vote!”). To listen to the current discussion one would believe that a MAJOR issue is gay marriage. Hawaiians are typically very tolerant of homosexuality and alternate life styles. But the gay marriage debate has been a volatile issue here. If this becomes a referendum on gay marriage the state could tilt toward Bush.

The Democrats have had a lock on the Hawaiian legislature for the last 50 years. The recent election of a Republican Governor, Linda Lingle, has seemed to many a repudiation of the “old” way of doing business here. Saturation level radio ads from the Republican party have hyped this historic Democratic dominance and have attempted to associate it with corruption within the government (which is very believable to most Hawaiians). To the extent that these ads stick, then the state Republicans appear to be the anti-establishment party. The carry-over to the national election may be significant.

[This is cross posted on the Command Post.]