Barack Obama
Maya Setoro-Ng, sister of Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, greets Danielle Bass, of Mililani, Hawaii , a volunteer at the Obama Volunteer Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008. (AP Photo/Lucy Pemoni)

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Sen. Barack Obama, so closely identified with Chicago, has his roots, his family and a clear edge in Hawaii, which holds Democratic presidential caucuses on Tuesday.

The Illinois senator, who was born in Hawaii and spent most of his first 18 years here, is a source of pride for many of the state's voters.

"How often do you have a guy from Hawaii who could very well be the next president of the United States?" Jacce Mikulanec, an Obama district captain on Oahu, asked. "People are very excited about that."

Hawaii's mere 20 Democratic delegates and its distance from the mainland usually make the state an afterthought in presidential campaigns. But Obama's narrow lead and the strong contest Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton continues to wage means the state could have an impact on the race.

Of the 2,025 delegates needed for the Democratic nomination, Obama now has 1,276; Clinton, 1,220.

Neither candidate plans to campaign in the state, but Clinton has dispatched daughter Chelsea to Hawaii for three days, culminating in a rally on Maui with union workers on Sunday.

"I would hope you would support my mom because you believe in her policies and her vision for our country," Chelsea Clinton told about 150 people at the University of Hawaii West Oahu campus Friday. "To see a woman break the ultimate glass ceiling is really inspiring to me."

In a conference call with local reporters this week, Hillary Clinton said, "I know we face an uphill battle in the state, but we plan to run a vigorous and successful campaign."

Obama has enlisted the support of his half-sister, Honolulu school teacher Maya Soetoro-Ng, and Honolulu-born actress Kelly Hu. Obama's campaign is also airing a national TV ad and a Hawaii-specific radio ad, while Clinton has come out with a "Solutions for Hawaii" plan.

Soetoro-Ng spoke to about 100 people at the University of Hawaii Manoa campus Friday night. "You might ask, 'Should we be loyal to Barack Obama simply because he's a local boy?'" she told the crowd, which broke out into laughter when someone said, "Yes."

"You might say yes. I wouldn't argue with you," she said.

Rep. Neil Abercrombie, who was friends with Obama's parents at the University of Hawaii, said Obama's multicultural background his white mother's parents were from Kansas, while his black father was Kenyan appeals to Hawaii's racially and ethnically diverse voters.

"He has been raised literally in the spirit of aloha. The foundation of his character was shaped by Hawaii's multicultural society," Abercrombie said. "Diversity should unite us rather than divide us."

Even among unions that are publicly supporting Clinton, some members are divided over whether to stay true to their union or back a hometown hero, said Randy Perreira, executive director for the Hawaii Government Employees Union.

A majority of Hawaii union members wanted to endorse Obama, but the group followed the will of its national parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, he said.

"Both individuals are tremendous candidates. I don't think we would be disappointed with any candidate over another," Perreira said.

State Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, a Clinton supporter, predicted that Chelsea Clinton's visit "is going to remind people of what the Clintons have done for Hawaii and what Hawaii means to them."

As an example, Hanabusa pointed to the apology resolution signed by former President Clinton, which she said paved the way for the Native Hawaiian sovereignty bill sponsored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii.

The legislation would give Native Hawaiians the right to form a governing entity similar to those of Native Americans that could negotiate with state and federal governments over control of natural resources, lands and assets.

Both Obama and Clinton support the legislation. Clinton also said she would like to continue military spending in the state and would support Honolulu's mass transit funding application.

"She may not have lived here or grown up here, but she has real solutions for Hawaii," said Jin Chon, a Clinton campaign spokesman. "Obama is from Hawaii, and that can mean something, but at the same time people are worried about how they're going to pay for employee health care or how they're going to get their energy costs reduced."

State party officials predict record turnout and long lines at some caucus sites. They have ordered extra ballots, and some worry that even those may not be enough to accommodate everyone.

Obama tends to outperform Clinton in caucuses, which require a greater commitment of time and energy from voters. He's won caucuses in 10 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands, while she narrowly won New Mexico's caucuses and American Samoa. Clinton also won the popular vote in Nevada's Democratic caucuses, but Obama came away with one more delegate due to complex distribution rules.

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