Challenger Kirk Caldwell says he raised more money in 6 weeks since his first fall fundraiser than carlisle raised in those 6 months — nearly $73 thousand dollars. carlisle holds the overall money raised and cash-on-hand lead.
"The last time around we got more and more momentum in terms of the fundraising through the process of the election and I’m expecting the same thing to happen here," says Peter Carlisle, Honolulu Mayor.
"As you saw in my last campaign I did raise a significant amount of money. I know we can do that again with the support of all the people who supported me before," says Kirk Caldwell, candidate for Mayor.
In the last election Caldwell outraised Carlisle more than 2-to-1, winning the money race but losing the vote.
"It’s not really going to be money that wins this particular election but the accomplishments that have occurred throughout the city and county during the last year and a half," says Carlisle.
Former Governor Ben Cayetano is also in the running for the seat, but does not have any fundraising report due since he entered the race this month, after the end of the reporting period.
Cayetano declined to say what’s been raised so far but said enthusiasm is very high comparing the 6-month pace of the mayor and Caldwell, Cayetano said "usually the incumbent has an edge, but I really feel the establishment and unions are going to be backing Caldwell."
"I have talked to almost every union in this state at this point, including some that usually don’t endorse mayors," says Caldwell.
"Frankly I’m very skeptical, since I’ve never received an endorsement from HGEA and usually it’s not the unions that aren’t endorsing me, it’s the union bosses," says Carlisle.
Cayetano says he targets raising a half million dollars by April.
Carlisle points out he won last time with half a million.
Caldwell says 800,000 is a minimum and up to 1.5 million a goal.
The race could be decided in the august primary if a contender gets more than 50 percent of the vote.
See the original article at: KHON2 Developing Stories
