U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, in a dig at Gov. Linda Lingle, said last night that bashing public-sector labor unions and making unilateral decisions is not the kind of leadership that can move the state forward.

Pitting "the private sector against public employees and bashing unions might score some political points, but it's done nothing to stop economic bleeding. It has only made people more angry and disengaged," Abercrombie said at his birthday fundraiser for his governor's campaign at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa.

Lingle has suggested that public-sector union leaders are in denial about the state's budget deficit. The governor has ordered state workers to take three furlough days a month for two years to help close the deficit, but she is being challenged in court by union leaders who argue that furloughs should be the subject of collective bargaining.

"We need a governor who can reconcile differences and not seek to impose his or her will, who can forge consensus and not pronounce unilateral decisions, who can solve problems and not just take positions," Abercrombie said.

The Hawai'i Democrat said after his speech that he was not trying to insert himself into the dispute, only describing how he would approach such conflicts if elected governor.

"We have to bring people together and we have to resolve problems that have been festering for a long time," the congressman said. "However they manifest themselves currently, it's a result of not having the leadership there all along.

"How it's going to be resolved now is something I can't do anything about until I have the opportunity."

Fundraising was one of the reasons Abercrombie announced his campaign early, since he has never in previous campaigns raised the estimated $3 million it will likely take to be competitive next year.

Abercrombie has scheduled eight fundraisers since his announcement in March, including five in June alone.

The congressman's campaign advisers have stressed the importance of putting up an impressive number in the state campaign-finance report that covers the first half of the year.

A solid showing could help build momentum for his campaign among party insiders and activists, especially now that Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann is raising money for a potential primary run.

Bill Kaneko, Abercrombie's campaign manager, said the recession has made fundraising a challenge.

"It's a down economy. It's tough for a lot of businesses and individuals right now," he said.

With Hannemann competing with Abercrombie for money and endorsements, the dynamic of the primary is already taking shape, more than a year before the filing deadline next July.

"Whether (Hannemann) is in or out, it's been promising," Kaneko said, pointing to the 1,200 people who turned up for the congressman's birthday fundraiser last night.

Abercrombie turned 71 on Friday.

Hannemann, meanwhile, had his first major fundraiser on Saturday at an event hosted by attorney Bert Kobayashi, Jr.

The mayor's committee, E Ho'omua Hannemann, released a preliminary list of supporters yesterday.

Hannemann's early backers include David Carey, the president and chief executive officer of Outrigger; George Paris, who leads the local ironworkers' union; and Ruth Ono, a civic leader.

"I've said consistently that running for governor is something I'd like to consider seriously and I appreciate the efforts of the exploratory committee. That said, there is much work today as mayor of Honolulu and this is where I'm focused," Hannemann said in a statement.

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and attorney and former state lawmaker John Carroll are the likely Republican candidates for governor.

Abercrombie, who knew President Obama's parents and was an early supporter of Obama's presidential campaign, has used Obama's themes of hope and change in an effort to gain the support of some of the thousands who joined the Democratic party last year because of the Hawai'i-born candidate.

Abercrombie said he would not try to ride on Obama's coattails but would continue to give voice to the president's message. Hannemann has also sought to remind potential voters of his meetings with Obama. Hannemann's page on Twitter, the social media Web site, has a picture of the mayor with the president.

"I do not believe that those who voted for hope and change went into hibernation on January 20th when President Obama was sworn in," Abercrombie said.