Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann says an announcement of his bid for the governor's seat could come at any time, though the only official democratic contender is calling on him to keep his city job.
The latest twists in a race that hasn't got off the starting blocks came as influential unions made their endorsements.
The state's largest private-sector union -- the ILWU -- endorsed a candidate yet to officially join the race for the state's top job.
"Our entire union will work hard to elect Mufi Hannemann as the next governor of Hawaii."
Stopping just short of a declaration, the mayor said the union will have him as gubernatorial candidate to root for "sooner rather than later."
"In terms of an announcement it could come at any time," said Hannemann.
"There is no better sense of timing than yours truly."
Becoming a contender on paper could come as late as the july filing deadline -- but he made clear he's a candidate in spirit if not yet in letter.
"They have a candidate now, they have a candidate now. i think too much is being placed on whether he's officially announced or not. i mean we're raising money, we're building support and momentum." said Mufi Hannemann, Honolulu Mayor.
Hannemann would have to resign as mayor after officially filing. while his campaign uses the slogan "go mufi go," his opponent is saying "stay Mufi stay."
"There's no reason for the mayor and i to be running against each other."
Neil Abercrombie and the IBEW union endorsing him say they want Hannemann to stay in the mayor's seat to see rail through to EIS completion and project groundbreaking.
"The mayor hasn't finished what he asked us for help him to do, which is get this rail project going."
"Are we going to have the jobs associated with rail on more than paper. somebody saying jobs jobs jobs doesn't mean they are there. that doesn't give you a job, that gives you words," said Abercrombie.
"I'm not gonna second guess what neil abercrombie has done with all respect to all the complications he's created as a result of creating a special election, we have to find a million dollars," said Hannemann.
Hannemann said he'll try to time his resign-to-run announcement in a way that would allow the special election to fill the mayor's seat to coincide with the fall primary.
