WASHINGTON — In his 16 years in the U.S. Senate, Daniel Akaka has developed a reputation and relationship with some of his Democratic colleagues that could pay huge dividends in his re-election bid this year.

It could mean big money, political ads, campaign workers, personal appearances and more.

"Friends in high places, as you might say, are important to voters as well as the politicians, and Akaka can claim having friends in high places — most Democrats in the U.S. Senate, for example," said Stuart Rothenberg, a nonpartisan political analyst.

One supporter, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said he already contributed the maximum allowed to Akaka's campaign through his leadership political action committee and is willing to do whatever the senator needs.

"Obviously, if he needs me, I'll be there," said Obama, who was born in Hawai'i, attended Punahou School and is sometimes called "Hawai'i's third senator" by his supporters in the state.

Neither candidate has an overwhelming amount in the bank, so outside support is important. At the end of the year, Akaka had $648,000 in cash to Case's $147,000. In his 2004 re-election campaign Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, the state's senior senator, spent about $1.8 million.

When Case announced his challenge on Jan. 20, some Democratic senators, such as Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Charles Schumer of New York, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, rushed to support Akaka.

Reid, Schumer and other Senate Democrats already have taped a video testimonial talking about Akaka's value in the Senate.

Akaka said he welcomes the help and whatever way his Senate supporters can pitch in "would certainly make a difference."

"For me, it means they value my service here in the U.S. Senate and that I do make a difference not only for the Senate but for Hawai'i," he said. "What is important is to convey to the people of Hawai'i what I can do here for the people of Hawai'i with this kind of support from the leadership."

Inouye, D-Hawai'i, and Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, also are solid Akaka supporters.

Abercrombie said he was supporting Akaka "with both fists."

Asked if he will stump with Akaka in the Islands, Abercrombie said he would wait to see how it all develops.

"At this stage, things are just getting under way," he said.

Inouye said he was unsure how much time he would be able to spend in Hawai'i to help Akaka because his wife is undergoing treatment for cancer.

"I'm going to do what I can," he said.

Case, who plans to raise $1 million for his Senate campaign, said he also wants to tap into the Washington fundraising network and has started making calls to supporters in the area.

"The reception has been very favorable," he said. "Obviously there are some people that have contributed to me in the past that probably will not this time around because they will simply choose to contribute to Sen. Akaka."

Case said many people in the Washington area who have contributed to him in the past did so in part because they view him as somebody who will be in Washington politics for a long time "up to and including the Senate."

"I will be fundraising inside the Beltway, as well as the rest of the country including Hawai'i," he said.

Washington support can translate quickly into cash.

Senators, as individuals, can contribute $4,200 to a candidate, evenly split between the primary and general elections. They also can contribute another $4,000 — $2,000 for each election — from their own campaign committees.

Those senators with leadership PACs, such as Obama and Reid, can put an additional $5,000 into each election.

The heavy hitter is the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which also is backing Akaka.

The organization, which helps incumbent senators in their re-election, can make contributions to Akaka's primary campaign of up to $37,300, according to the Federal Election Commission.

The senatorial committee also can spend an unlimited amount of money in the primary battle if they don't coordinate it with Akaka's campaign committee.

"This can include television ads, phone banks and other things," said Bob Biersack, a spokesman for the commission. "Sometimes what the party will do is set up a separate office to handle uncoordinated activities."

The senatorial committee also can contribute $79,200 to the party nominee's campaign for the general election.

Rothenberg said the committee's involvement in Akaka's primary is similar to Senate Republicans' involvement in Sen. Lincoln Chafee's primary campaign in Rhode Island.

Chafee, a moderate Republican seeking a second term, is facing conservative Stephen Laffey, the Republican mayor of Cranston, R.I.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the White House and the Senate Republican leadership have all jumped to Chafee's support in the belief he is the only Republican candidate who can carry the Democratic leaning state.