Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie had name recognition, history, a 10-to-1 spending advantage, and President Obama's endorsement all on his side in last night's Democratic primary. All of which couldn't save him from a stunning 67% to 32% defeat at the hands of state Sen. David Ige, reports the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Abercrombie becomes the state's first incumbent governor to fall in a primary, and only the second to fail to secure re-election. Abercrombie was gracious in defeat, saying, "You have made a decision tonight, the Democratic Party has made a decision tonight. I'm going to do everything I can to see that David Ige occupies (the governor's office) for all of the people of Hawaii."
But though Abercrombie was quick to support Ige, his defeat could still open a window, a prominent Democrat tells Politico. "I anticipate that the Republicans, nationally, are smelling blood," says Randy Iwase, the Democrats' 2006 nominee for governor. (More Hawaii stories.)