Former congressman Ed Case has sent out federal fundraising letters to his supporters so he will have money available for another possible run for U.S. Senate.

Case, a moderate Democrat who lost to U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka in the Senate primary last year, has said he would likely be a candidate if a Senate vacancy occurs or when Akaka's term expires in 2012.

Case has also said he may run for governor in 2010, but only a token amount — $6,000 — could be transferred from his federal account to a state campaign and only if he formed a political action committee.

Case said the fundraising letters went out to more than 5,000 donors who have helped him in previous campaigns. He said the supporters not only back him personally but agree with him on the need for more inclusive, less polarized government leadership.

"I've stood for some specific goals for Hawai'i and the country over the last five years. People have supported me, I believe, because they agree with me," Case said yesterday. "And as I look over the landscape of politics in Hawai'i, there sure aren't a lot of other people that are, as far as I can tell, seeking the same goals and talking the same language."

Akaka and U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye are both 82 and, other than Case, no one in the party has talked openly about a succession plan. Several Democrats may jump at a vacancy, which would create an intensely competitive fundraising environment.

U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, has more than $1 million for his re-election campaign to the U.S. House next year and is also considered a possible candidate for governor in 2010.

Abercrombie could hypothetically transfer the money for a Senate campaign, if a vacancy were to occur. Case could also use the money he is raising for a U.S. House campaign, although he said that possibility is remote.

Mike McCartney, the party's chairman, said Case would be a viable candidate for Senate or governor. His campaign against Akaka caused some bitter feelings within the party but Case has a loyal following of Democrats, independents and some Republicans.

But McCartney said some Democrats might be uncomfortable that Case is raising money for a Senate campaign when Inouye plans to run again in 2010 and Akaka was just re-elected.

"It's a little presumptuous," McCartney said. "Something about it just doesn't feel right."

Case was forced to refund donations he collected last year for the general election after he lost to Akaka in the primary. The Case for Senate campaign has only a small amount of money and, according to treasurer James Case, has not been very active in fundraising during the first half of the year.

"We're just trying to keep the organization going and keep money in the account," James Case said.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com.