Gov. Linda Lingle has made fundraising stops in New York, Philadelphia, Houston and Los Angeles over the past several weeks, wooing wealthy donors before a new state campaign finance law that limits Mainland political contributions takes effect in January.

The Republican governor has held eight Mainland fundraisers this year, campaign-finance records show, with five events since early November.

Last week, Lingle raised money at a New York luncheon hosted by Gov. George Pataki and at a Philadelphia reception with Tom Ridge, the former homeland security secretary and Pennsylvania governor.

Democrats in the Hawai'i Legislature changed the law last session to limit Mainland contributions to no more than 20 percent of donations each campaign reporting period, roughly the amount Lingle raised from the Mainland in her 2002 election. The change was clearly meant to curtail Lingle's fundraising advantage after she spent a record $5.4 million three years ago. But it has given Lingle, who has said she could raise $6 million for her re-election campaign next year, an incentive to collect as much Mainland money as possible before the law takes effect.

Lingle, a former state party chairwoman, used the GOP's lucrative national fundraising network in her unsuccessful campaign for governor in 1998 and her victory in 2002. Being the first woman governor of Hawai'i, and the first Republican to lead the state in 40 years, has made her an appealing draw. According to campaign-finance records, Lingle held seven Mainland fundraisers in 2003 and two Mainland events last year.

"Our strategy all along has been to do it over time," said Miriam Hellreich, a Hawai'i Republican with national connections who is directing Lingle's re-election campaign.

Kristin Hueter, a Republican fundraiser in the San Francisco Bay Area who has raised money for Lingle, President Bush and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Lingle is popular in Republican circles nationally. Lingle was invited to campaign with Bush on the Mainland in the weeks before his 2004 re-election.

"The president has the highest regard for Linda," Hueter said.

"She is a very successful Republican woman, and we're trying to do everything we can in the party to promote activity with women, and to promote female leadership."

Some political observers in Hawai'i believe Lingle has national aspirations, something the governor has always downplayed publicly. Hueter said Mainland donors recognize the future possibility but are supporting her now as a Republican governor.

"I think, at the moment, they're not investing in her, so to speak, because of what she might do next; they're investing in her because of what she's doing now, and they want to support her in what she's doing for Hawai'i," Hueter said.

Hellreich said Lingle's fundraising strategy has not been influenced by the lack of a Democratic candidate. "I do think it's unusual that they don't have anybody at this point in time," she said.

Top state Democrats and union leaders met privately Wednesday at the Hawai'i Government Employees Association with U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka to discuss their options for the governor's race. People familiar with the meeting said several possible candidates were mentioned.

Democrats would have preferred to have a candidate months ago, and realize their plight is an image problem for the state's dominant party. But people described the meeting as optimistic and said party leaders are not panicking. If the party's factions unite, as they did in 2004 when it appeared Hawai'i might be leaning toward Bush in the presidential election, the eventual candidate may have the organizing strength to help offset Lingle's fundraising power.

Many Democrats insist Lingle is vulnerable and say her links to Bush could be damaging. SurveyUSA, a New Jersey firm that does state tracking polls, put Lingle's approval rating at 59 percent in November.

"Money doesn't buy elections," said Randy Perreira, the deputy executive director of the HGEA.

"A few years have passed, and nothing much is there in her accomplishment column.

"The election is next year. There's plenty of time."

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.