It is time to check in with former Gov. Linda Lingle and her campaign for the U.S. Senate seat from Hawaii.

Lingle faces token primary opposition from former legislator John Carroll. She then is expected to battle the Democratic primary winner, either U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono or former U.S. Rep. Ed Case, through August, September, October and into November of 2012.

Given the news media’s gnat-like attention span, Lingle will likely fade from our radar screens until next summer.

Today, Lingle has been busy raising money by traveling across the country holding fundraisers.

Real dollar amounts will not be out until later this month, but Lingle proclaims her efforts a success.

For example, while attending a family wedding in Philadelphia and participating in panels for the Policy Center meeting in New Orleans, Lingle was able to find time to pass the hat.

During her mainland swing, former New York Gov. George Pataki and former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue both held fundraisers for Lingle.

At that cousin’s wedding, Lingle was able to squeeze in a fundraiser the night before the rehearsal dinner.

"My cousin hosted an event in his home," Lingle said. "These are people who have never been involved, but they are like many people who are so concerned about the direction of the country."

In one of those small ironies of political life, Lingle has been waltzing across the mainland with checks raining into her open purse, unbothered by the Hawaii Democratic legislation passed early in her gubernatorial career. The law was aimed at limiting how much money state politicians could fundraise out of state. Of course, the state law now doesn’t apply to federal candidates such as Lingle, but the local Democrats hoping to raise mainland money remain ensnared.

During one mainland appearance, Lingle was asked about being tabbed a RINO (Republican In Name Only) because of her moderate stands on issues ranging from abortion to immigration. The former governor welcomed the GOP slap.

"I said I don’t mind it when people say that, because it just means I am a person who is able to compromise. Whether they are Republicans or Democrats, I don’t get into the partisan stuff; I’m just a person who tries to get stuff done," Lingle said.

Lingle added that Democrat Hirono is also raising mainland money. Hirono is out with a campaign solicitation to Democrats in Washington state, reminding voters that Lingle supported former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s vice presidential campaign.

Lingle said she was asked to nominate Palin and she thought the folks back home would like it that she was involved in national politics.

"People are proud I was nominating someone at a national convention who was a fellow governor. I hope I did a good job in the sense that the people from Hawaii were proud," Lingle said.

She went on to criticize Hirono for her fund- raising appeal, which only attacked her.

"There is not one thing on this page that tells how she would make life better for the people of Hawaii. Her website is equally devoid of positions," Lingle complained.

A spokeswoman for Hirono, Jadine Nielsen, finance chairwoman, shot back that people are "deeply disappointed" by Lingle’s partisanship.

"Nominating Sarah Palin, attacking Barack Obama, then claiming those things made people here in Hawaii ‘proud,’ shows Linda Lingle’s the one who has truly lost touch with Hawaii," Nielsen said.

Left out of the back and forth was Democratic candidate Ed Case, although Lingle did suggest Hirono was taking voters for granted by not first attacking Case in her fundraising letter.

From all appearances, 2012 is going to last a very long time.

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