HAWAII 4 Electoral Votes

(by Andy Winer, state director Obama for America, with minor editing by Eric M. Appleman) - Barack Obama, who was born, raised, and educated in Hawaii, dominated the presidential campaign in his home state.  During the February 19, 2008 caucuses, Obama won a convincing 76% to 24% victory in a race that saw a 900% increase in caucus participation.

For the general election, Obama opened a campaign office on Oahu, and he made a public campaign appearance on August 8, 2008, in Honolulu at Keehi Lagoon Park, before he began a one week vacation.  While on vacation, Obama also attended a fundraiser on August 12, 2008, which raised nearly $1,500,000, a record for a Hawaii political event.  In total, Hawaii raised over $3,000,000 for Obama, which shattered all prior fundraising for a presidential campaign.

Obama’s sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, resides in Hawaii, and she made several campaign appearances across the state on behalf of her brother.  Soetoro-Ng traveled to Kauai, the Big Island, and Maui, and she also appeared at public events on Oahu. 

Obama returned to Honolulu shortly before the presidential election to visit his ailing grandmother, Madelyn Dunham.  During that visit, Obama did not make any public appearances.  Mrs. Dunham passed away on November 2, 2008, two days before the presidential election.

Since Hawaii was viewed as a safe state for Obama, much of the state’s campaign activities were directed towards Nevada, where a sizeable number of ex-Hawaii residents reside.  The Hawaii Obama campaign sent dozens of volunteers into Nevada, and made tens of thousands of phone calls to former Hawaii residents.

On November 4, 2008, Obama won every precinct in the state but one.  Of 356 precincts statewide, McCain won only Laie-Kahuku, which is where BYU Hawaii is located and which has a very heavy Mormon population, by approximately 30 votesObama's victory margin of 72% to 28% over Senator McCain in Hawaii was the largest of any state in the country.

  

Newspaper Endorsements:
Honolulu Star-Bulletin for Obama-Biden
Honolulu Advertiser did not endorse



Copyright © 2008  Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action