Two major candidates for Senate have gone public early with fundraising numbers.
Republican Linda Lingle has raised 1.77 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 -- her first in the race she entered October 11th.
Democrat Mazie Hirono raised more than 600,000 dollars over the same period.
Democrat Ed Case who faces Hirono in the primary has not yet released his numbers but says it's substantially less.
Hirono's campaign said they're not surprised that Lingle quote "...who introduced Sarah Palin to the world and campaigned hard against Barack Obama, has raised a lot of money from fellow Republicans."
Case charges that both Hirono's and Lingle's money is heavily mainland backed and said "if it's just about another senator bought and paid for before she's sworn in we'll never fix our problems."
"The amount that we raised here in Hawaii was more than one of the democrat opponents has raised, more than both Senators Inouye and Akaka -- they raise more money outside than I did in my race," says Linda Lingle, (R) Senate candidate.
Outside money is common in races for Washington regardless of party and a lot is expected to flow in for all major candidates this year too.
There are so many mainland businesses and professional groups who have an interest in what happens in congress and that's really not anything new, what is new is these Superpacs," says Chuck Freedman, Democratic Party of Hawaii.
Superpacs can raise unlimited amounts of money and spend it on behalf of candidates as long as they don't coordinate directly with the candidate. Superpac spending here is expected to be significant as Hawaii's senate seat has been called a swing race or a toss-up by national analysts.
If it's a truthful ad but hard-hitting I think it's ok. If they start putting out false ads on either side, I think candidates should stand up for the people and say that's not right," says Lingle.
Campaign spending reports aren't due to the federal election commission until next Tuesday.
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Former Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle raised $1.7 million in 82 days for her Republican bid for the U.S. Senate nomination.
According to her campaign funding report to the Federal Election Commission, the money was raised during October 11, 2011 to December 31, 2011.
Her campaign says nearly 44 percent of the $1,767,310.42 raised was from supporters in Hawaii.
Democratic contender Rep. Mazie Hirono reported raising $624,363 from nearly 4,000 individual donors during the fourth fundraising quarter of 2011.
Her campaign reports over $1 million cash on hand.
Fellow democratic contender Ed Case has not released his 4th quarter campaign fundraising numbers.
Lingle, Hirono and Case are vying for U.S. Senator Dan Akaka’s seat.
