Democrats stop spending in Hawaii special, cite local infighting

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DCCC pulls out of Hawaii

WASHINGTON — House Democrats are abandoning efforts to win a special election in Hawaii as a party feud threatens their prospects in President Barack Obama’s native state.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Jennifer Crider on Monday said the organization would stop spending for the May 22 contest to replace Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who left Congress to run for governor. National Democrats have been smarting over the messy Democratic fight between state Senate president Colleen Hanabusa and former Rep. Ed Case.

Hanabusa is favored by the state’s two senators, Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, as well as labor. The DCCC blamed local Democrats for infighting.

Republican Charles Djou is leading in the polls. The Democratic campaign committee has spent more than $300,000 on the race, much of it for ads critical of Djou.