Lightning Round: The Governor Debate

Chad Blair/Civil Beat

Monday's televised debate between Mufi Hannemann and Neil Abercrombie showed both candidates in top form, scoring points with factual (and sometimes not-so-factual) statements.

The Democratic candidates were each at their best: Hannemann, the former Honolulu mayor, speaking smoothly and with confidence; Abercrombie, the former 1st congressional district congressman, raising his voice in passion, his voice sometimes quivering with emotion.

The debate also showed both men sticking to their well-worn stump talk — e.g., Hannemann the executive, Abercrombie the agent of change.

But the exchange also showed spontaneous engagement, especially when each man asked the other direct questions.

Abercrombie drilled Hannemann on the "Compare and Decide" mailer, the quadrupling of property tax assessments in Kalihi and a tendency (according to Abercrombie) to blame others for his mistakes.

But Hannemann deflected those charges by saying he stood by his apology for the mailer (which was showing up late in neighbor island mailboxes) and saying a mayor has little control over assessments.

The most important ingredient of all was a partisan audience — Hannemann's wearing red, Abercrombie's in white — that whooped and cheered and booed and groaned as the debate grew more intense.

The enthusiasm at times nearly spun out of the control of Hawaii News Now, and the TV anchors had to remind the audience to shoosh.

The biggest takeaway of the night: These two candidates for the highest elected position in the state should go at it again, in a live forum for all to see, before the Sept. 18 primary ends this historic battle.

This is participatory democracy at its best ... except maybe for those silly "lightning round" questions. The real heat and light came during the serious questioning from panelists, community members and the candidates themselves.

And it was all fun to watch.

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