By Patti Epler 04/17/2012

Former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann continues to be the leading fundraiser in the primary campaign for the open 2nd congressional district seat, although Honolulu City Council member Tulsi Gabbard is holding her own in the race for campaign cash.

Two other Democrats — Hilo attorney Bob Marx and Office of Hawaiian Affairs counsel Esther Kiaaina — are actively campaigning but lack the financial edge of Hannemann and Gabbard. A fifth contender, Rafael del Castillo, reports being in the hole by about $15,000 for the last few months.

Hannemann reported having about $631,000 in the bank as of March 31, the end of the quarterly reporting period. Gabbard said she had about $465,000 cash on hand, according to reports filed Monday with the Federal Election Commission.

Hannemann and Gabbard, as well as U.S. Senate candidates Linda Lingle and Mazie Hirono, put out press releases last week touting their fundraising successes in anticipation of the FEC reports being made public this week. They generally like to emphasize how much money they are raising locally, a counter to the widely held public belief that people who serve in Washington, D.C. end up being more in tune with national special interests, including political action committees, than with the residents in the communities where they live.

More: http://www.civilbeat.com/articles/2012/04/17/15589-hannemann-gabbard-pull-away-from-pack-in-cd2-money-race/