Just hours after the primary election results were announced, the National Republican Congressional Committee sent out a news release endorsing state Sen. Bob Hogue for the U.S. House seat in the 2nd Congressional District.

The committee has maintained for months that the seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ed Case is up for grabs, and while it has never been held by a Republican, the party says this could be the year that changes.

But the question now is whether the committee will back up its news releases endorsing Hogue with cash, something Hogue had trouble coming up with in the primary. He raised almost $71,000, compared with Democrat Mazie Hirono's almost $650,000.

NRCC spokesman Alex Burgos refused to say whether the committee would help fill Hogue's campaign coffers, but offered this via e-mail: "If Bob Hogue can put an effective fundraising operation into place, he can inform voters about Hirono's wacky and dangerously naive proposals."

One example of these so-called "wacky" proposals is Hirono's support for the creation of a Department of Peace, which was co-sponsored by Hawai'i's 1st Congressional District Rep. Neil Abercrombie.

The Peace Department legislation was introduced by Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a 2004 presidential candidate with a strong following in Hawai'i, where he came in second in the state's presidential caucus, garnering 30 percent of the primary vote.

The state's strong support for the anti-war Kucinich suggests that calling Hirono a "big government peacenik" — as Burgos did in an earlier news release — might not be the insult the NRCC intended.

Using peacenik as a criticism "was so out of touch with who the district is," said Julie Stauch, Hirono's campaign manager.

Stauch said the comfort level at Hirono's campaign will in part rest on whether Hogue is able to draw significant national support.

"If the NRCC comes in and drops a half-million in here, that changes the complexities of the race," she said. "If they stay out ... if the race has no outside parties involved, I think it's fair to say that Mazie has a very good chance of winning."

SENDING A MESSAGE

Though Hogue won the primary on far less money than his opponent spent, his campaign knows the importance of fundraising for the general election. Millionaire Quentin Kawananakoa had outspent Hogue by $366,000 three weeks before the primary vote, according to the Sept. 3 campaign finance reports.

"We recognize that it is very important in order to get your message out," said Malia Smith, Hogue's campaign manager.

Smith declined to discuss strategy, but said, "We're working extremely hard to make sure that our message gets heard. We're confident that we're going to be able to raise money to win the election."

Knowing they were up against a millionaire in the primary, Hogue focused on grass-roots campaigning, meeting with voters rather than concentrating on a media blitz.

"Bob went door-to-door. That's what made a huge difference. Name recognition played a factor as well," Smith said.

She added, "Bob is a really nice guy, and people (relate to) him."

Hirono also made a point of getting out into the district and meeting with voters, Stauch said.

However, with more money at her disposal, Hirono was also able to run commercials on the major network affiliates — Hogue's spots ran on Oceanic cable stations — as well as buy radio ads, send out multiple mailers and launch a phone campaign.

DEMOCRATIC SUPPORT

Hirono, who spent two days last week meeting with Democratic leaders in Washington, D.C., is still waiting to hear whether she will receive financial support from the national Democratic Party, but Stauch is optimistic Hirono will be able to demonstrate need.

"We can make a good case," she said.

While Hawai'i's primary was held too late for Hirono to be included in an upcoming Emily's List mailer, she will continue to receive campaign support from the national grass-roots organization, which offered her assistance in the primary.

And like Hogue, Hirono is receiving vocal support from Washington, while waiting to hear whether campaign dollars will follow.

The day after the primary, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued a statement supporting all the Democratic candidates.

"Together we are going to re-elect Congressman Abercrombie and elect former Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono as Hawai'i's next member of Congress," he said.

Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.