KSSK: Lingle Announces Senate Bid--Hear the exclusive interview by clicking HERE!

HNN VIDEO: Lingle announces run for U.S. Senate

Lingle Announces Run For Senate

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle announced on Tuesday morning she is running for the U.S. Senate.

“I am very appreciative of the encouragement I have received from our residents across the state about my run for Hawai‘i’s open U.S. Senate seat. Because of this support, and after much thoughtful deliberation, I am energized and enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve all the people of Hawai‘i in Washington,” Lingle said in a statement on her campaign website.

Former state Adjutant General Robert Lee is Lingle's campaign manager.

HNN: Lingle announces run for U.S. Senate

Former Gov. Linda Lingle has officially announced her run for the U.S. Senate. She made the announcement on KSSK radio Tuesday morning

CB: It's Official: Lingle Running for U.S. Senate

In a press release issued Tuesday morning, Lingle, 58, said, "I am very appreciative of the encouragement I have received from our residents across the state about my run for Hawaii's open U.S. Senate seat. Because of this support, and after much thoughtful deliberation, I am energized and enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve all the people of Hawaii in Washington."

Lingle said she will stress her "record of fiscal accountability and executive experience in economic development, stimulating job creation, international relations, clean energy and visitor industry issues to Washington."

In Lingle's favor, however, is a disappointing performance by her successor, Democrat Neil Abercrombie. His administration was rocked last week when four of his aides announced their resignations, including his chief of staff.

Political control of the U.S. Senate is at play this year, with more Democrats seeking re-election than Republicans. The GOP feels it has a solid shot at keeping the U.S. House and winning the Senate and the presidency. Lingle's campaign is sure to benefit from mainland financial support.

Klompus, who was a senior advisor to Lingle as governor, is Lingle's communications director for her Senate run.

Retired U.S. Army Major General Robert Lee, a former State Adjutant General and head of the Hawaii's National Guard during the Lingle administration, will serve as campaign manager.

The Hawaii GOP is certain to rally around Lingle's candidacy. Sen. Akaka's departure marks the first time in decades that a U.S. Senate race in Hawaii has not featured an incumbent. Only one Republican, Hiram Fong, served in the U.S. Senate from Hawaii.

The GOP is also hopeful of returning Charles Djou to the U.S. Congress. He has already announced his campaign to retake the Hawaii First Congressional District seat.

National Journal: Case Still Arguing Lingle Could Beat Hirono

…former Democratic Rep. Ed Case warned that the former Republican governor could win if Hawaii Democrats nominate his primary opponent.

Case, who is also running for the Senate, doubled down on his electability pitch in an interview with Hotline On Call last Thursday, arguing that Hawaii voters want change and there is a real risk they will choose a Republican if not offered a Democrat who can chart a new course.

"The question is, presented a change with an R and a status quo Democrat, where are the voters of Hawai'i going to go?" Case said, before Lingle's announcement. "I think the voters are perfectly capable of selecting the Republican candidate."

Case's message has become central in his primary campaign against Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono. He irritated national Democrats earlier this year when he released a poll showing himself leading Republican Linda Lingle but Hirono losing to the former governor. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee immediately pushed back, pointing to their own poll showing Hirono winning against Lingle.

Hirono lost to Lingle in the 2002 governor's race, after beating Case in the primary that year.

When asked about his decision to release the poll indicating Lingle's strength in a general election, Case did not back down.

"I think what [DSCC executive director] Guy's [Cecil] concern was, in my releasing the poll, was that it said a Republican could beat a Democrat in Hawaii and of course, from his perspective, that was not something he wanted publicized."

SA: Lingle joins U.S. Senate race

Lingle, the first woman and the first Republican elected governor in four decades, will stress her chief executive experience in her campaign.

She described governors as "very practical people because we had to get things done as governors."

Lingle also said she would be an independent voice for Hawaii. "I want to be real clear on this point: I don't work for (Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell, and for that matter I don't work for President Obama. I work for the people of Hawaii," she said on the Perry & Price radio show.

"And if there is a law being proposed, whether it's from the president or from Mitch McConnell, if it's good for Hawaii I'm for it. If it's not good for us, I'm against it regardless of who introduces it." ….

"Hawaii needs a senator who will apply our values to the changes so deeply needed on Capitol Hill. Those values, my values, are best represented by the Democratic Party, while Linda's first vote in the Senate would be for a leadership and agenda that would tank our economy, skimp on education and welsh on our promises to seniors and veterans," Case said in an e-mail.

"Hawaii needs a senator who will reject purely partisan politics and get things done. Despite what she'll say, that wasn't Linda's record as governor and she deserted Hawaii at crucial times to campaign for mainland Republicans."

Jadine Nielsen, the finance chairwoman for the Hirono campaign, also linked Lingle to mainland conservatives. "Republican Linda Lingle's announcement today isn't particularly surprising," she said in an email. "The national Republican Party has been anxious to move Lingle back to center stage as they did at the 2008 Republican National Convention, when Lingle went on national television to second Sarah Palin's nomination for vice president and endorse the McCain-Palin ticket over our island son, Barack Obama."

And here is a sampling of today's pre-announcement media coverage....

POLITICO: Lingle Senate Bid to Put Hawaii In Play

While national Democrats have attempted to preemptively portray Lingle as a "hyper-partisan," it likely won't pass the smell test in Hawaii, where she has established a record of bucking her party. She favors some abortion rights and has advocated for tax increases to pay for the state's light-rail system.

In her 2006 reelection race, Lingle captured 63 percent of the vote, including 66 percent of independents, according to exit polls.

She was thrust onto the national stage two years later at the 2008 Republican National Convention, when she introduced Sarah Palin as Sen. John McCain's running mate.

A Lingle-Hirono campaign would be a rematch from their 2002 gubernatorial face-off.

Lingle, who outraised Hirono in that contest, won that race by five percentage points.

One potential worrisome development for Lingle is the state of the state party infrastructure. Party chairman Jonah Kaauwai resigned and the party is reportedly $100,000 in debt.

A local political analyst declared that "Hawaii Republicans are now weaker across the state than they were 10 years ago."

SA: Lingle Expected to Announce Candidacy Today

Former Gov. Linda Lingle is expected to announce as soon as Tuesday that she will run in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, sources say.

Lingle is scheduled to speak at a noon luncheon of the Sales and Marketing Executives International at the Pacific Club. The topic is how decisions made in Washington, D.C., can affect local businesses and the community.

KHON: Lingle will make announcement about political future

National Journal: Lingle Running For Senate In Hawaii

Lingle served two terms as governor from 2002 until 2010, after serving as mayor of Maui. She narrowly defeated Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, to win her first term and office and won re-election with 63 percent of the vote four years later. In the Senate race, she could face a rematch against Hirono, who is facing former Rep. Ed Case in the Democratic primary.

Case irritated national Democrats earlier this year when he released a poll that showed Hirono losing to Lingle….

…Republicans have been competitive there recently. In addition to Lingle's success, George W. Bush carried 45 percent of the vote in the 2004 presidential election. That year, former Vice President Dick Cheney made a last-minute trek to the state, in hopes of picking it off for the Republicans.

Lingle could be the third Jewish Republican Senate nominee this election cycle - a time when Republicans are amping up their criticism over Obama's treatment of Israel. In Ohio, state Treasurer Josh Mandel is expected to win the Republican nomination to face Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. And in Florida, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner is facing a competitive primary for the nomination to take on Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

NJ Hotline:

Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle is expected to announce she's running for the Senate on Tuesday, according to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. It's a major recruiting coup for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which now has a shot at competing in the deeply-Democratic confines of President Obama's birth state.

Rep. Mazie Hirono and former Rep. Ed Case are facing off in a Democratic primary for the nomination. Lingle narrowly defeated Hirono in her first gubernatorial campaign, back in 2002.

MSNBC: Lingle looks like she's in

“Former Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle (R) ‘is expected to announce as soon as Tuesday that she will run in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate,’ the Honolulu Star Advertiser reports,” per Political Wire.

The Hill: Lingle set to announce Hawaii Senate bid

Lingle, a two-term former governor who won her second term with 63 percent of the vote, is the only Republican candidate in Hawaii who could have made this race competitive….

"Today marks Linda Lingle's biggest announcement since she nominated Sarah Palin for vice president, an event that typified Lingle's partisan Republican approach to governing," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman Matt Canter said in a statement. "Now Lingle wants to go to Washington to become a rubber stamp for Mitch McConnell and the Republican Party whose sole priority is to defeat President Obama at every turn."

Former Rep. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) are vying for the Democratic nomination to replace retiring Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii). Most of the Democratic establishment in the state is lining up behind Hirono and against Case, a centrist Blue Dog who angered many with his 2006 primary run against Akaka. Lingle narrowly defeated Hirono in 2002 to become governor.

USA Today: Ex-Hawaii governor Lingle to run for Senate

Former Hawaii governor Linda Lingle, a Republican, is set to announce today that she will run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Daniel Akaka.

Lingle, a two-term governor, is viewed as her party's best chance to take a seat that's been in Democratic hands since 1977.

WaPo: Former governor Linda Lingle to run for Senate in Hawaii

Republicans have landed their top recruit in the open Hawaii Senate race, with former governor Linda Lingle set to enter the race and give the GOP a chance to win in a heavily Democratic state.

Lingle, a two-term governor who left office after the 2010 election, immediately becomes the frontrunner for the GOP nomination by virtue of her fundraising ability and political experience….

…she was broadly popular during much of her tenure.

Democrats have signaled that they will make Lingle’s introduction of Sarah Palin at the 2008 Republican National Convention a major issue in the campaign.

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Read More:

Video: Lingle at Djou Fundraiser in Manoa

Homeownership grows 1.18% during Lingle Years—Hawaii Growth Rate #3 in Nation

Inouye Slams Ed Case: “I don’t want to deal with a person like that”

Case: Hirono is Status Quo Candidate, Senate Race Mirrors 2002

October 5, 2011 News Read

1. Bob Jones: Hirono, Hanabusa, Abercrombie Least Inspirational in History
2. Roll Call: Lingle is most high profile candidate not yet announced
3. Inouye: “Case knows why I’m not too happy with him”

Obama’s Low Approval Ratings in Hawaii Create opening for Lingle

Teachers: I will never campaign for anybody again, We’re almost better off Voting Republican

Abercrombie Fails: Consumer Confidence worse than Cayetano’s Second Term

Lingle Was Right: Rail Projections based on $300M Cut to Bus Funding