When you are 6’7", not every place is a perfect fit, but Mufi Hannemann thinks he has found it in the newly formed Hawaii Independent Party.

Honolulu’s former two-term mayor formed the party to rid himself of slogging through a Democratic primary filled with voters who have never supported Hannemann’s stands on business, same-gender marriage and the environment.

The new party was formally recognized and if Hannemann finds a lieutenant governor running mate and votes for himself in the primary, he will be a choice for governor in the November general election along with the Republican and Democratic candidates.

"I have struggled in the Democratic primary," says Hannemann, figuring the general election will offer a broader base of potential supporters.

Calling himself "a centrist," Hannemann says his run should appeal to independents and moderates.

"I have always been able to get a nice crossover of votes from Republicans," he adds.

In interviews this week, Hannemann announced his second run at the state’s top office. He ran against Neil Abercrombie in 2010 and lost, 59 percent to 38 percent in that primary.

He hopes times have changed. Hannemann reports that he has learned to focus on his strengths while not shying away from discussing what he thinks are the current governor’s negatives.

"I will be able to offer a very clear choice. If the issue is executive experience and a management style then that is our cup of tea.

"We will be able to contrast that very well," says Hannemann.

The contrast in that bruising primary four years ago had Hannemann stumbling with a campaign mailer that, according to Abercrombie, had the Harvard grad unfairly judging Abercrombie’s education, wife and accomplishments.

Looking back at his campaign, Hannemann adds that he was perceived as running as an incumbent, while Abercrombie’s record in Congress was not an issue.

"The last time I was the chief executive making all the tough decisions and being under the gun. Rail, for example, was an issue that was an albatross around my neck. Now the issue is pau — the lawsuits have been dismissed, and the courts basically validated what we did," Hannemann says.

The campaign today can be framed on issues he can control, says Hannemann, who particularly wants to tell voters he stressed his experience running the city compared to Abercrombie being unprepared to run the state.

"Many of the things we talked about are the shortcomings I warned about. I talked about this as an executive job, it is a management job.

"I think there is going to be some vindication going forward," says Hannemann.

He notes that Abercrombie’s unpopularity is fueling the Democratic primary challenge by state Sen. David Ige, presenting a chance that Ige could upset Abercrombie. Even then, Hannemann figures, he still trumps Ige in managerial experience and name recognition.

And Hannemann also likes his chances against the likely GOP nominee, former Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, because he thinks the public will perceive the conservative Republican as "to the extreme right of me."

A Hannemann-Abercrombie rematch would be the third time the two have met. In 1986, Hannemann beat Abercrombie in the congressional primary but Abercrombie won the special election to fill the remaining months in the vacant congressional term.

The history lesson Hannemann wants voters to remember is that back in 1994, former Mayor Frank Fasi had formed his own party to get out of the Democratic primary and nearly beat Democratic Lt. Gov. Ben Cayetano for the governorship.

In a three-way general election, there will be a lot more cross currents making navigation perilous for all three candidates — and fascinating for voters.

Richard Borreca writes on politics on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Reach him at rborreca@staradvertiser.com.