The anti-rail campaign has been driven by Stop Rail Now, which has raised about $60,000 since April, according to group organizers. About $32,000 of that was spent on an advertising campaign that's consisted primarily of print ads.

INFLUENCE OF ADS

According to the Hawai'i Poll, there's nearly 2-to-1 support for the elevated commuter rail project among residents. It's likely the pro-rail ads helped shape the strong support for rail, Ward said.

"You can't spend that much money and have that kind of saturation without some kind of influence, and we know who spent more money," she said.

Proponents and opponents of the rail project have accused each other of misleading the public and some have questioned whether it's appropriate for the city to promote rail. However, poll participants were nearly evenly split over whether it's appropriate for the city to fund an ad campaign in support of the rail project.

About 50 percent of respondents who were aware of the ads approved of the city funding an ad campaign supporting rail. That compares with 47 percent opposed to a city-funded ad campaign for rail. The difference was within the poll's margin of error.

Hannemann defended the city's rail-related communications effort yesterday as key to informing residents on the planned rail system. Some of the public outreach efforts are mandated by the federal government, which is expected to pay for a portion of the mass-transit system, he said. The city's public relations effort includes radio ads and the "Honolulu On the Move" afternoon radio show on KHVH-AM 830.

'PUBLIC ADVOCACY'

Hannemann acknowledged that "obviously there is a mixed opinion out there" about the spending of city dollars on pro-rail advertisements.

"The fact of the matter is we are required by the Federal Transit Administration to have a public involvement and education process, that's a requirement for federal funds."

He noted that the city has only paid primarily for radio advertisements, and that all television and nearly all print ads have been paid for either by pro-transit groups or his own campaign.

The city will continue to conduct "public advocacy" as the planning and building of the rail line continues.

"This is a necessary component and more so because of the fervor of those who do not want us to do rail, it's important for us to get out the facts," the mayor said.

Support for the city's ad campaign was strongest among those living along the proposed route from East Kapolei to Ala Moana, according to the Hawai'i Poll.

Opposition was high among respondents with reported household incomes of $100,000 or more, who disapproved of a city-sponsored rail campaign.

results skewed?

Critics contend the city's public outreach and education effort has blurred the lines between providing public information and outright promotion of the project.

Concerns about city-sponsored ads prompted the City Council to pass a measure this year that requires the city to include a disclaimer informing the public if an advertisement was paid for by "city taxpayers." The disclaimer rule was introduced by Councilman Charles Djou and took effect June 19.

City Council chairwoman Barbara Marshall, who opposes the rail project, said the poll was conducted on the heels of a major pro-rail ad blitz that could have skewed the results.

"I'm not at all surprised that it (the results in favor of rail) would be that way given the onslaught of media advertisement in favor of rail that's been paid for by the city and by the mayor and by the various factions supporting" rail, Marshall said. "It seems like every time you turn on the TV, there's been an advertisement."

Carol Anne Dixon, a University of Hawai'i professor of retailing and international trade, said there's likely a correlation between pro-rail ads and pro-rail public support.

"I think there is," she said. "What the ads do is they draw the lines in the sand. Unfortunately, they're not informational. I do think the ads have caused people to stop and think about what does all this mean."

Advertiser Staff Writer Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this report