Cayetano outgunned, $30.52 to $13.74

Kirk Caldwell and Ben Cayetano spent about the same amount per vote in their mayoral campaigns. But outside forces resulted in winner Caldwell benefiting with well more than double what was spent for Cayetano, according to state Campaign Spending Commission figures.

Caldwell, who received about 53 percent of the vote, spent directly $10.63 per vote received, while Cayetano spent $10.55, including from donations to their campaigns. Independent of that, though, pro-rail Pacific Resource Partnership spent $2.4 million, mostly against Cayetano, and a carpenters political action committee spent $739,000 on ads supporting Caldwell and opposing Cayetano, resulting in more than $4.8 million total being spent for Caldwell’s benefit — or $30.52 per pro-Caldwell vote. Meanwhile, businessmen’s PAC SaveOurHonolulu.com spent $266,000 and Defend Truth added $165,000 in Cayetano’s support, raising to a total of under $13.74 being spent per vote for Cayetano.

What a stellar week for Hawaii’s Te’o

Whatever happens tonight with the Heisman Trophy, Manti Te’o is, well, simply The Man. Picking up top-tier awards all week, Te’o has been the very model of athletic success and admirable humility.

Among the honors: the Maxwell Award for the nation’s most outstanding college football player, the Bednarik Award, Walter Camp Foundation award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Butkus Award and the Lombardi Award.

Circle Jan. 7 on the calendar: That’s when Te’o and his Notre Dame battle Alabama in the big BCS bowl game.