The Barack Obama Hawai‘i Campaign Committee will be coming to Kaua‘i Friday to organize those interested in getting involved in the presidential hopeful’s bid for the White House.
“Hawai‘i still needs to get their endorsement for a presidential candidate,” event organizer Janice Bond said.
Edward Hasagawa and former state representative Brian Schatz will be present to help organize volunteers, Bond said.
Bond’s biggest frustration, she says, is getting the youth of Hawai‘i involved in politics. She said it is hard to get them interested because they are too busy working two or three jobs.
“Young people here are disillusioned,” Bond said. “(But) we need to get people activated and moving to get organized.”
Coming off strong after Saturday night’s debate in New Hampshire, a CNN/WMUR poll yesterday afternoon indicated Obama leading by 10 points over Sen. Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. The poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire, suggested 39 percent of New Hampshire voters back Obama, compared to Clinton’s 29 percent.
On the Republican side, Sen. John McCain has a four-point lead over Mitt Romney.
After the doubleheader debate Saturday night, McCain is the front-runner with 34 percent; Romney is a close second with 30 percent, according to CNN.
Clinton, no longer considered the Democratic front-runner, criticized Obama in the New Hampshire debate about his flip-flopping on issues ranging from the Patriot Act to funding for the Iraq War.
Obama responded to Clinton’s characterization by saying, “I think what the people of America are looking for are folks who are going to be straight about the issues and are going to be interested in solving problems and bringing people together.”
Obama won last week’s Iowa Democratic caucus, eight points ahead of former Sen. John Edwards, leaving Clinton in third place.
“The Iowa caucus results have convinced growing numbers of Granite State (New Hampshire) voters that Obama can really go all the way,” CNN Polling Director Keating Holland states on the CNN Web site.
Hawai‘i’s Democratic primary will be on Feb. 19, while Hawai‘i Republicans will pick their delegates at a state convention May 17 and 18.
The Obama campaign committee will meet Friday at 5 p.m. at the ILWU meeting room, 4154 Hardy St.
For more information, call 639-9201.
Other campaigns have yet to announce plans on Kaua‘i.
