There was considerable tension in the air last weekend at the Democratic Party's state convention, where party faithful had their first focused opportunity to sort out their feelings on the upcoming senatorial primary fight between Sen. Dan Akaka and Rep. Ed Case.

It was clear to anyone who attended that the tilt of this group was toward party elder Akaka.

Case had to sit through pretty enthusiastic cheering for Akaka and a lecture from senior Sen. Daniel Inouye, who made it clear where he stands and where he expects fellow Democrats to stand: with Akaka.

Even the unfailingly genial Akaka had some tough words for his opponent, although he didn't mention him by name. Case's efforts to position himself as a "moderate" or fiscal conservative, Akaka suggested, is in reality just a way to support tax cuts for the rich and avoid the need to stand firm for traditional Democratic liberal values.

Case responded by sticking to his guns on his theme that it is time for change in the party and for a new generation to begin moving up the ranks of senior leadership.

For all the tension, this was nothing for a party that has often turned its conventions into knockdown fights between various factions. Hostilities between, say, Tom Gill and backers of John Burns, or between George Ariyoshi and Frank Fasi, make today's Case-Akaka divide look like nothing.

The big difference this time around is this: For years the Democratic Party was so big, so dominant, that factionalism within the party took the place of traditional Democratic-Republican battling.

Once the in-house fighting was over, winners and losers alike would paste smiles on their faces (not always sincerely, of course) and go on with the business of beating up Republicans in the general election.

That is not the case this year. Indeed, at the same time the Democrats were smacking each other around, the Republicans were meeting to indulge themselves in a love-fest for their popular leader, Gov. Linda Lingle.

Of course, the Republicans have a contested primary fight of their own, with Bob Hogue and Quentin Kawananakoa going for the GOP congressional nomination. But that battle is not nearly as heated as Case-Akaka or even the multicandidate battle for the Democratic nomination for the 2nd Congressional District.

It was clear to anyone at the Democratic convention that organizationally and emotionally, the day belonged to Akaka.

But one must remember that party conventions are for the faithful and the true believers, the union folks and the most partisan members of the party. That, naturally, puts most of them in the Akaka camp.

Case is, in effect, aiming his campaign not at the party faithful but at less acutely involved voters who are somewhere out there in the political middle.

His problem, as the convention demonstrated, is that this makes for a good general election strategy but will be an uphill battle in the primary.

Jerry Burris is The Advertiser's editorial page editor.

Reach Jerry Burris at jburris@honoluluadvertiser.com.