(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 votes. Obama'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
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© 2008 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
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