Now that the legislative session is over, the real work of politicians can begin: getting elected.

Normally, the big excitement in a year like this would be the race for governor. But at the moment, all is quiet on that front.

Incumbent Linda Lingle has been gathering cash and freshening up her campaign team. Her primary Democratic opponent, at this point, is former councilman and legislator Randy Iwase. Speculation continues that Big Island Mayor Harry Kim will enter the race as a Democrat, but until and unless he does, the governor's race essentially is a general election contest.

That leaves the big action on the federal front, unusual in Hawai'i. All the activity is the direct result of a decision by U.S. Rep. Ed Case to challenge U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in the Democratic primary.

Case's departure opens a rare vacancy in Congress which has attracted at least a half-dozen viable candidates, with more likely to come. Considering that members of Congress from Hawai'i tend to stay in their posts until they leave voluntarily, this is an important race. Because we are a small state, U.S. House members tend to take on a stature and importance not much short of what is attached to our senators.

But the marquee race is the Case-Akaka showdown. This has the potential to be a watershed moment in the political history of this state.

Case's chances depend substantially on the changing demographics of this state. Akaka represents continuity, ethnic pride and the liberal tradition of the Democratic Party.

Case represents change, a more moderate political stance and the idea that one does not have to be, well, from Kalihi, to get elected to major office anymore.

In short, it is a referendum on our political culture.

To date, the Case-Akaka relationship has been, if a bit strained, rather polite. The two still sit down together in delegation strategy meetings in Washington chaired by senior Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. Inouye is actively backing Akaka but has made a point of continuing to include Case in those legislative sessions.

There are signs that the strategy by Case and Akaka of talking past each other and directly to the voters may be changing.

One salvo was fired pointedly last week by Akaka, who criticized Case for voting in favor of a tax-cut bill being pushed by the Bush administration. Akaka voted against it on the losing side in the Senate. Akaka portrayed his vote as being for "all the people of Hawai'i, not just the wealthy few," while Case said he voted in favor of "middle-class tax relief."

It's easy to see what this was about: Akaka is portraying himself as a man of the people, a "little guy" champion firmly in the mainstream of Democratic politics in Hawai'i. Case was speaking to the middle class, which many Democrats have become over several decades of prosperity.

This election will do much to define or redefine what the Democratic Party stands for in the Islands.

Jerry Burris is The Advertiser's editorial page editor.

Reach Jerry Burris at jburris@honoluluadvertiser.com.