U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka has extended his fundraising advantage over U.S. Rep. Ed Case and has nearly triple the cash available to campaign in the September primary for Senate.

Akaka raised about $783,150 between April and June and has more than $1 million in the bank for his re-election. Case raised more than $251,000 during the quarter and has about $381,800 in cash available.

Quarterly campaign-finance reports are due today with the Federal Election Commission, but the Akaka and Case campaigns released report summaries to the media yesterday.

While Akaka and Case will both have enough money and media attention to communicate with voters over the next two months, fundraising is a measurement of legitimacy, especially among political insiders and national political donors looking to tell which campaign is stronger. The candidates and their allies made fundraising pitches before the end of the June reporting period, knowing the potential impact the numbers may have on perceptions about their campaigns.

MORE AD OPTIONS

Akaka's fundraising edge gives him more options for political advertising. Over the past few months, Akaka's campaign has released a television commercial, five radio spots and a full-page newspaper ad, most of which contrasted Akaka and Case on the war in Iraq. Case's campaign has not done any media advertising since a television ad after his campaign announcement in January.

"The generosity of those who are behind me will enable me to communicate with voters about my record of accomplishment, the values I stand for, and my plans to continue working on behalf of Hawai'i's people in the important areas of education, healthcare, providing for our military forces and veterans, and continuing to hold the Bush administration accountable for the Iraq war and the soaring national debt," Akaka said yesterday in a statement.

Case, who officially filed his campaign papers with the state Office of Elections yesterday, has been campaigning mostly on the ground through dozens of personal appearances across the Islands. The congressman has also continued the "talk story" tours he began in his 2nd Congressional District in 2003 — which now number well over 100 — with nearly two dozen scheduled for July and August.

"We are going to have a significant amount of financial resources to run a good, solid campaign that's going to give voters a choice," he said.

Case said part of his strategy is to save enough campaign money for the closing weeks before the primary so he can counter any final barrage of Akaka ads. "The concern is countering negative campaigning that comes at the end," he said. "There is no reason for me to be exhausting my resources right now."

During the first quarter of the year, after the initial shock of Case's challenge, Akaka quickly raised money from national political action committees to steady his campaign. But in the past quarter, Akaka raised most of his money through individual donations. The senator collected about $561,250 from individuals, $184,600 from PACs and $37,300 from party committees.

Case raised about $239,950 from individual donors and $11,500 from PACs. The congressman said in the spring, and still suspects, that the party's establishment has steered PACs and other donors toward Akaka.

"We've basically been chilled out of that world. They're status quo defenders, so we've had to go to the grass roots, which is just fine," he said.

ANTI-WAR THEME

The theme of Akaka's early advertising has been the war in Iraq, which shows the senator believes Democratic primary voters, who tend to be more liberal, will respond to his anti-war record. Akaka opposed giving President Bush the authority to invade Iraq, was openly critical of post-war planning, and has called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops by July 2007.

Case has said he likely would have voted for giving Bush the authority to invade, has raised concerns about being misled on whether Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, but does not believe in setting a withdrawal date until the country is stable.

Case said he wants to debate Akaka on Iraq along with their broader views on foreign policy and national security. Akaka's campaign has said the senator would agree to debate but has not accepted any specific invitation.

"My opponent wants to make this a one-issue campaign, and I don't think the voters are going to ultimately treat this as a single current issue campaign. They're going to take the bigger, longer view," Case said, adding he believes his views on Iraq are closer to mainstream public opinion.

"But I believe Sen. Akaka and I do have some fundamental disagreements on Iraq, so I welcome the discussion."

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.