ENDANGERED HAWAIIAN

Sen. John Kerry has included Sen. Daniel Akaka, a 16-year Senate veteran facing a serious threat in the Sept. 24 Hawaii Democratic primary, among three endangered anti-war Senate candidates in a personal appeal for funds.

A recent e-mail dispatched by Kerry ("Support Strong Leaders Who Aren't Afraid to Tell the Truth About Iraq") requests funds for the campaigns of Sen. Bob Menendez in New Jersey, Ned Lamont in Connecticut and Akaka. Menendez was recently appointed to the Senate, and Lamont is opposing Sen. Joseph Lieberman. Akaka until recently had been considered a safe incumbent but now faces a formidable primary challenge by Rep. Ed Case, first elected to Congress in 2002.

Akaka lost prestige this year when he failed to pass his signature bill to give native Hawaiians the status of an Indian tribe. He has stopped his practice of always following his powerful senior Hawaiian colleague, Sen. Daniel Inouye, even when he deserts the Democratic party line. Akaka did not join Inouye recently in voting for the offshore oil-drilling bill.

MONEY FOR PATRICK

A contributor to the re-election campaign of Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island will gain admission to a "New England clambake dinner" Saturday Oct. 7 at the famous Kennedy compound on Cape Cod in Hyannis, Mass.

Washington lobbyists received solicitations from the congressman and his father and stepmother, Sen. and Mrs. Edward M. Kennedy. Requested contributions were $1,000 per person, $5,000 per host, $10,000 for a co-chair and $20,000 for a chair.

Even a chairmanship will not buy an overnight stay at the Kennedy compound. "Reservations are suggested at the Four Points by Sheraton in Hyannis," says the invitation.