Hawaii voters head to the polls for GOP presidential caucus
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Volunteers for Republican presidential candidates talked with potential voters on Monday in Honolulu.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nathan Paikai, a minister whos leading Trump’s campaign efforts in Hawaii, posed for a photo on Monday in Honolulu.
Voters are heading to the polls for Hawaii’s Republican presidential caucus today, in a race where some local voters say the candidates have failed to show the type of virtues they admire.
Observers expect 10,000 or more voters to turn out for the caucus in what is a largely Democratic state.
But some Hawaii Republicans worry the tone of the presidential campaigns will discourage voters in a state where modesty and harmony are revered. For instance, they say Donald Trump’s remarks about keeping Muslims out of the country turned them off.
“If candidates are looking to win over the state, then I think they need to be a little bit more open to diversity and a little more centrist about their approach,” said Beth Fukumoto-Chang, the House Minority Floor Leader.
Nathan Paikai, a minister who is leading Trump’s campaign efforts in Hawaii, sees it differently.
“There’s many people out there who say, ‘I don’t like the way he talks,” Paikai said about Trump. “My response is, if it’s a soft tone and it’s a lie, do you believe it? What does it matter about tone?”
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The Hawaii Republican Party is running the caucus in a style similar to a primary election, meaning Republicans will cast their votes privately.
They’re setting up polling stations on every island for a total of 45 polling places at 44 different locations.
Six candidates will appear on Hawaii’s Republican presidential caucus ballot, including current contenders Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Trump. Jeb Bush and Ben Carson also will appear, despite dropping out, since they did so after Hawaii’s ballot deadline.
Hawaii will send 19 delegates to the Republican National Convention. The caucus voting will determine how many delegates each candidate will get, based on a proportion of the votes. Then, based on the results, each candidate’s campaign will select which delegates they’ll send to the convention to cast their votes.
Despite being small and being sandwiched between Super Tuesday and major battles in Ohio and Florida, Hawaii’s Republican presidential caucus is a big deal in the state.
“Because the state doesn’t have a party line voter registration system, this is our method to bring people into the party,” said Andrew Walden, chairman of the caucus committee for the Hawaii Republican Party. Any registered voter who signs a Republican Party card can vote in the caucus, and unregistered residents will be able to register to vote at polling locations on caucus day.
In 2012, the Republican caucuses in Hawaii drew 10,000 participants, and organizers are hoping for the same amount this year. They printed 30,000 ballots, Walden said.
17 responses to “Hawaii voters head to the polls for GOP presidential caucus”
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Good reporting would also include the location of the 45 places in which to vote or register
Simply provide the link that identifies the polling places…how easy is that. Oh yes, this is a democrat state.
Just curious if the democrats and republicans cross reference their lists for duplicates. I would not be at all surprised to learn that there are individuals here registered in both parties.
Hey, is that the fallen Fale (former rep. Richard Fale of Hauula) holding that sign in picture #1?
Trump will Triumph….the low educated voters will flock to him.
but alot of strange things will happen between now and November 2016…stand by and wait and see!
Agree that there are a lot of uneducated bodies in Hawaii but very few of them will vote – and if they do, it’ll not be for the GOP.
Actually voters here are highly educated. That’s why they don’t bother with Republican clowns, personified by Sam Slom
I do not belong to any political party, and have voted for some dems and some repubs in previous elections. But this time I will vote for whomever is the Republican nominee for President, simply because Clinton, Sanders, and Biden are so awful.
Biden isn’t running. Guess you’ll be voting for Bush.
“After seven looonnnngggg years under this president, it’s time to move ahead”??lol,Ahh last seven years we have! (Remember Bush)?
I just LOVE it! Donald get’s attacked from the Left ,the Right,The Pope,Mexico’s President,our President, Environmentalist, world leaders and he just gets Stronger and Stronger.I love it! Go get-um Donald!
Here we have Sen.Slom and Djou also launching attacks and endorsements.Hey! Listen up guy’s! It’s Not going to work this time guys. The American people are fed up, especially with the Republican party!! Check this out!__We gave them the House,then we gave them the Senate and they still fell by the ax of the president and the Democrats!!
Yes you can say it ! Impotent!
We tried and tried again with Career politicians,who say one thing than do the complete opposite or Nothing at all . Today America is looking for an “Outsider” a Non-politician.Beholding to NO ONE.No obligations to any special interest group,donors,pacts etc. Funds his own campaigns and even his presidency ,when elected!..which will go to charity or the Veterans.
We don’t need another all talk and no action politician.
So find your polling place and VOTE. BTW The Hawaii Republican Party has a link to find your voting precincts! “Make America Great Again” IMUA!
You must have earned your degree from Trump U. It shows.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/millennial-media/201304/do-racism-conservatism-and-low-iq-go-hand-in-hand
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/09/05/republican-welfare-reform-pushed-americas-children-extreme-poverty.html
Sad GOP, having to pick the best of the worst. LOL Your candidates are jokes, ask anyone in the world.
Ever wonder why the “rest of the world” would support yours?
Actually, compared to US (regardless of who’s the President), rest of the world is a joke.
Obviously you travel very little…